DCCC Adds Six Candidates to ‘Red to Blue’ Program
July 16, 2020 - Nation
Victorious Valenzuela. Candace Valenzuela, candidate for Texas’ 24th Congressional District, won the Democratic Primary Runoff Election Tuesday night. Three days later, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added her and five other female candidates to their Red to Blue program. Photo: Candacefor24.com.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Political Columnist, San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The DCCC added six candidates to their Red to Blue program, which helps Democratic hopefuls with fundraising and organization
- The six candidates are Margaret Good (FL-16), Amy Kennedy (NJ-02), Desiree Tims (OH-10), Christina Finello (PA-01), Sima Ladjevardian (TX-02) and Candace Valenzuela (TX-24)
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Cheri Bustos announced Thursday that six female candidates have been added to the organization’s competitive Red to Blue program, which now supports 30 Democratic candidates nationwide.
The DCCC, known to political insiders as the D-Triple-C, is the campaign arm for Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which works to elect members of their party to that body by recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield politically notable or close elections.
The Red to Blue program arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue to develop strong campaigns. Through the program, the DCCC also provides strategic guidance, staff resources and valuable candidate training.
The six candidates that have been added to the program are Margaret Good (FL-16), Amy Kennedy (NJ-02), Desiree Tims (OH-10), Christina Finello (PA-01), Sima Ladjevardian (TX-02) and Candace Valenzuela (TX-24).
Texas’ 2nd Congressional District is in Houston and TX-24 is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“These candidates earned a spot on the DCCC’s Red to Blue program by surpassing aggressive goals for grassroots engagement, local support, campaign organization and fundraising,” stated a press release from the organization. “Beyond their records of service and demonstrated ability to build a winning campaign infrastructure, these candidates have an authentic message that connects with voters in their districts, and deep ties to the diverse communities they aim to serve.”
RELATED: Decision 2020: Primary Runoff Election Results
“House Democrats are pushing deeper into Republican held-territory with a group of strong and diverse candidates who are committed to putting everyday Americans first and working to lower the cost of healthcare and fight to ensure protections for people with pre-existing conditions,” said Bustos, who represents Illinois’ 17th Congressional District. “There is no question: We have been able to build a big battlefield in 2020 because of our exceptional candidates. I look forward to working with each of these proven leaders in the fight to protect the health, safety and economic future of all of our communities.”
The candidates who have earned the support of the Red to Blue program are Alyse Galvin (AK-AL), Joyce Elliott (AR-02), Hiral Tipirneni (AZ-06), Christy Smith (CA-25), Margaret Good (FL-16), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Rita Hart (IA-02), Betsy Dirksen Londrigan (IL-13), Christina Hale (IN-05), Kathleen Williams (MT-AL), Dan Feehan (MN-01), Jill Schupp (MO-02), Kara Eastman (NE-02), Amy Kennedy (NJ-02), Jackie Gordon (NY-02), Kate Schroder (OH-01), Desiree Timms (OH-10), Christina Finello (PA-01), Eugene DePasquale (PA-10), Pat Timmons-Goodson (NC-08), Sima Ladjevardian (TX-02), Wendy Davis (TX-21), Sri Preston Kulkarni (TX-22), Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23), Candace Valenzuela (TX-24), Carolyn Long (WA-03), Michelle De La Isla (KS-02), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Dana Balter (NY-24), and Cameron Webb (VA-05).
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a political columnist at the San Antonio Sentinel. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.