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Today, the DCCC announced six additions to its coveted Red to Blue Program for the 2022 cycle. Kermit Jones (CA-03), Adam Gray (CA-13), Christy Smith (CA-27), Asif Mahmood (CA-40), Will Rollins (CA-41), and Eric Sorensen (IL-17) are all running to help maintain a Democratic majority and stop radical Republicans from gaining control.
“The Democratic party is stronger because of candidates like these who have joined the fight to represent their community,” said DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney. ”Unlike their extreme Republican opponents, these candidates will fight for their district, work to protect reproductive freedom, battle to lower prices on groceries, gas and prescription drug costs, and seek commonsense solutions to combat gun violence terrorizing communities. ”
DCCC adds candidates to its Red to Blue program after hitting significant benchmarks related to overall campaign infrastructure, fundraising, and on-the-ground engagement. The program arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support, strategic guidance, staff resources, candidate training and more.
Read more about the DCCC Red to Blue program here.
About DCCC’s New Red To Blue Program Candidates:
CA-03: Kermit Jones, a veteran, physician, and lawyer, is running to turn California’s open 3rd Congressional District blue. Following the 9/11 attacks and once he completed medical school, Kermit joined the U.S. Navy and became a flight surgeon and deployed with a Marine squadron that took injured service members and Iraqi civilians to safety. After returning from Iraq, Kermit used the GI Bill to study public policy at Columbia University and was selected as a White House fellow in the Obama administration. Afterwards, he worked as a regulatory and patent attorney at a law firm, ensuring that new prescription drugs were safe and effective. He settled in Northern California with his family and began serving his community as a primary care physician. In Congress, Kermit will be a champion for health care, lower prescription prices, and protecting Californians’ against the wildfire crisis, while advocating for other commonsense policies to address the most pressing issues facing his constituents and our nation.
CA-13: Adam Gray is a fearless advocate who will continue representing San Joaquin Valley values in Washington. Adam grew up in Merced County and put himself through college working at his family’s feed store and dairy supply company. When the Great Recession hit, Adam chose to step up and be part of the solution. He was elected to the State Assembly where he has been an effective voice for the people he represents for the past decade, securing investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and water. In his 2020 race for California Assembly, Gray outperformed President Biden by 3.2 points.
CA-27: Christy Smith is an experienced California state Assemblywoman running to flip California’s 27th District. This race is a rematch of the 2020 election for CA-25 — a race that was decided by just 333 votes. As a student worker, Christy negotiated her first contract with wage and benefit increases on behalf of over 400 employees. She went on to serve in the U.S. Department of Education, and later returned to California where she raised her two daughters. Prior to serving as a California state legislator, she served two terms as a Governing Board Member of the Newhall School District where she successfully brought in $60 million in funding for facility and technology upgrades. In the state assembly, she authored nine bills that were signed into law focusing on education reform, homeowner protections, college affordability, and good governance. In Congress, Christy will be committed to fighting for educational, social, and economic equity.
CA-40: Asif Mahmood, a doctor and philanthropic leader, is running to flip California’s newly drawn 40th Congressional District blue. Asif grew up in a remote village in rural Pakistan where his parents taught him that helping others is our highest calling, which inspired him to become a doctor. After receiving his medical degree, Asif moved to America, and later California, where he has been practicing medicine for 20 years. Asif has played leading roles in philanthropic efforts for non-profit organizations like UNICEF and volunteers at a free clinic. He serves on the California Medical Board and on the board of the Valley Rescue Mission, the largest homeless shelter in Southern California. He is also the chair of the Organization for Social Media Safety which fights cyber-bullying and cyber-exploitation of children. In Congress, Asif will be a strong voice and problem solver for the families in his district and across the country.
CA-41: Will Rollins is a former federal prosecutor, running to flip
California’s 41st Congressional District blue. After attending Dartmouth and then Columbia Law School, Will clerked for two federal judges in California. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Will worked to protect the public from white-collar criminals, including a Ponzi scheme organizer who defrauded dozens of seniors out of their retirement savings and a corrupt physician who sold opiates for cash. Will later joined the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section of the National Security Division, where he prosecuted an electrical engineer for conspiring to send microchips with missile guidance applications to China, Iranian nationals for violating U.S. sanctions on Tehran, a QAnon follower for an attack at the Port of Los Angeles, and insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on January 6th. Bringing justice and accountability back to Washington is Will’s top priority and well positioned to oust GOP incumbent Ken Calvert who has earned the title of “one of the most corrupt politicians in Congress,” betrayed his oath of office, and aligned himself with insurrectionists who assaulted our democracy.
IL-17: Eric Sorensen, a former meteorologist, is running to ensure Illinois’ 17th Congressional District stays blue. Eric grew up in a middle-class family in Illinois and has spent his career keeping people informed — as a scientist, meteorologist, and climate change expert. Eric is committed to addressing the rising costs hitting Americans’ pocketbooks; bringing good-paying union jobs back to Northwest Illinois; and investing in trade schools, apprenticeships, and skills training programs to make sure anyone who’s willing to work has a chance to get ahead. In Congress, Eric will bring that same focus guided by the facts and data.
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