Kildee to focus on engaging rural and working families
Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Rep. Dan Kildee will serve as the Heartland Engagement Chair for the 2020 campaign cycle. Kildee, who represents rural and working-class communities like Bay City, Saginaw and Flint, Michigan in Congress, takes over in that role from DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos.
As Heartland Engagement Chair in the 2018 cycle, Bustos helped oversee a historically large House map, as well as Democratic victories in rural districts around the country. In his capacity as Chair, Kildee will serve on the DCCC’s leadership team and will help to direct campaign efforts in rural communities, including by mentoring candidates and incumbent members, as well as by campaigning in key districts.
Throughout, Kildee will remain focused on the kitchen table issues that Democrats successfully campaigned on in 2018, including lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and working to expand greater economic opportunity to communities across the country that have been left out and left behind.
“Dan Kildee understands the economic challenges and aspirations of middle-class families, and he’s proven himself to be a strong voice in Congress for them and communities across the heartland,” said DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos. “I’m excited to have Dan on our team as we build on our landmark successes in 2018 and continue to compete in districts in every corner of our country in 2020.”
“Democrats believe that regardless of where you live in America, you should be able to find a good-paying job that allows you to support your family and retire with dignity. Championing pro-growth economic policies and listening to working families in America’s heartland is a top priority of the New Democratic majority in Congress. As the Chair of Heartland Engagement, I’m excited to strengthen the relationship Democrats have with our country’s small towns, rural communities and blue-collar neighborhoods,” said Heartland Engagement Chair Dan Kildee.
Congressman Kildee’s congressional district represents working class communities like Flint, Michigan, but also many rural counties, including Arenac, Iosco and Tuscola counties. In both 2016 and 2018, Congressman Kildee outperformed the top of the ticket in all six counties he represents. After the 2016 election, Congressman Kildee was recognized nationally as “one of a small cadre of Democrats in Congress who have learned how to win in working-class districts by emphasizing economic solutions.
###