| Today, the DCCC announced six new top-tier candidates added to its highly competitive ‘Red to Blue’ program for the 2026 cycle. Today’s expansion brings the number of Red to Blue candidates to 46, demonstrating the strength of candidates across the battleground with less than one month remaining in the midterm campaign. This latest group of candidates will receive strategic guidance, staff resources, training, and fundraising support to ensure they are in the best possible position to win in November.
“The candidates added to our Red to Blue program today are winning over voters with their message of lowering costs — from gas and groceries to health care and housing,” said DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene. “At a time when so many families are struggling to pay the bills, Americans deserve representatives who will actually fight to make their lives better. Less than one month out from Election Day, voters are ready to turn the page on House Republicans’ broken promises and elect Democrats to the House Majority.”
Red to Blue is a highly competitive and battle-tested DCCC program that arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue building winning campaigns. Candidates earn a spot in the program by surpassing aggressive goals for grassroots engagement, local support, campaign organization, and fundraising.
About the DCCC’s six new Red to Blue candidates:
AR-02 – Chris Jones
Chris Jones is a 7th-generation Arkansan raised by parents who were both ministers. As a physicist, ordained minister, and former executive director of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, Chris has built the broad coalition necessary to compete in this Trump-won district. Chris ran for Governor in 2022, establishing broad statewide visibility and demonstrating major strength by winning Pulaski County, which anchors AR-02, with roughly 60% of the vote. As voters sour on French Hill’s cost-raising agenda, Chris’ campaign is laser-focused on lowering costs and growing the region’s economy. Record high Democratic turnout in the primary and a fired-up base in Democratic-voting Little Rock puts Chris on strong footing to flip this seat in November.
CO-03 – Dwayne Romero
United States Army Engineer Officer Dwayne Romero is a husband, father, combat veteran, and small business owner. Raised on food stamps by a single mom, Dwayne understands the challenges working Coloradans face. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Dwayne served seven years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. During the Persian Gulf War, Dwayne earned a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in Iraq. Following his military service, Dwayne moved back to Colorado — where he was previously stationed at Fort Carson — with his wife, Margaret, to start a family. Dwayne then served as the top official in charge of economic development under then-Governor John Hickenlooper. Today, Dwayne owns and operates a business on the Western Slope. Governor Jared Polis won this district in 2022 and Jeff Hurd is a proven underperformer. Now, in an even better environment for Democrats, Dwayne is the leader that will flip this seat in November.
FL-27 – Eliott Rodriguez
For 25 years, Eliott Rodriguez gained the trust of South Florida families as their CBS Miami news anchor. The son of Cuban immigrants who knows firsthand how important it is to have a fair, just, and safe immigration system, Eliott earned the trust of South Florida families by listening to their stories, asking tough questions and always telling them the truth. He understands South Florida not just because he reported on it for decades, but because he lived the same changes alongside the families he covered — raising a family here and watching Miami become increasingly unaffordable. He’s fighting for lower costs because his own family has had to leave Miami due to Salazar’s agenda that’s making life too expensive in Miami and across South Florida. Eliott has a track record in Florida’s 27th Congressional District that voters can trust and that’s why they’re going to send him to D.C. in November.
NV-02 – Teresa Benitez-Thompson
Teresa Benitez-Thompson is a wife, mother, community advocate, and the former Majority Leader of the Nevada Assembly. When Teresa was just a teenager, her younger sister became pregnant and was nearly forced to choose between having food on the table and pursuing an education. Teresa took action and even testified on behalf of her family at the state capitol, leading the legislature to change policies so that young women could go to school and still receive food assistance. That experience taught Teresa the power of raising your voice and kicked off Teresa’s career as a community advocate, organizer, and social worker. Teresa went on to serve for 12 years in the state legislature and is now running for Congress to lower costs, protect working families, and fight for Northern Nevada — a place she’s called home for more than 40 years. Against a scandal-plagued Republican who made national news for lying about his military service and for breaking financial disclosure laws, Teresa is the clear choice for voters.
NY-21 – Blake Gendebien
Born and raised in the North Country, Blake Gendebien is a second-generation dairy farmer, small business owner, and father of three who has spent his life giving back to his community. Blake, who currently co-owns and operates Twin Mill Farms, has represented more than 450 farmers as Vice Chair of the largest dairy co-op in the Northeast and started a nonprofit with his wife to support North Country families dealing with cancer. Now, Blake is running to bring North Country values to Congress, building a strong coalition that crosses party lines in every corner of this sprawling district. He is committed to working with anyone to lower costs, protect rural health care, support the region’s family farms, and root out corruption. While scandal-ridden extremist and self-dealer Anthony Constantino pledges loyalty to an unpopular agenda of tariffs that jack up costs and health care cuts that hurt rural hospitals, Blake is ready to get to work for the North Country and fight for his community.
TN-09 – Justin J. Pearson
Justin J. Pearson is a Memphis native who serves as a State Representative in the Tennessee General Assembly. Raised by a preacher and a teacher, Justin has spent his life working to strengthen his community. Before even entering elected office, Justin co-founded a successful grassroots organization that worked to protect the region’s land and keep environmental cleanup costs resulting from big businesses off of taxpayers. As a legislator, Justin has built a track record of fighting for lower housing and health care costs. Republicans had to gerrymander this seat because they are bleeding support in Trump-won districts as voters turn against their cost-raising agenda. Even after Tennessee Republicans’ attempt to rig this district, Democrats have a clear path. Phil Bredesen won this district in 2018 thanks to high turnout from Black voters, and Justin’s record of service and high support in Shelby County give him a clear path to winning TN-09 this November. |
