Sidie’s impressive campaign and recent poll numbers have made Kansas’ 3rd District a top pick-up opportunity for Democrats
DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján today announced that career businessman and political outsider Jay Sidie has been named to the DCCC’s highly competitive Red to Blue program, emphasizing that Kevin Yoder’s clear vulnerability represents a key pickup opportunity for Democrats in 2016. The promising strength of Sidie’s campaign, combined with recent poll numbers showing Kevin Yoder’s weak job approval and Donald Trump and Sam Brownback’s unfavorability, increases the likelihood that Kansans will vote for Sidie in November.
The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.
“We’re very excited to have Jay Sidie as a Red to Blue candidate in a district where voters are clearly fed up with the status quo. As a career businessman with two children in local public schools, Jay brings a refreshing perspective to the critical issues facing Kansas and the nation. Kevin Yoder’s poor approval rating and his embrace of the dangerous policies of Donald Trump and Sam Brownback make clear that Kansas’ 3rd District needs a commonsense leader like Jay,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján
Over the summer Sabato’s Crystal Ball and The Cook Political Report downgraded Kevin Yoder’s reelection chances. This makes sense given the disastrous political climate for Republicans in Kansas’ 3rd District. A poll conducted in late August showed that a generic Democrat leads a generic Republican 42-39 while Yoder’s favorability is underwater at 32-39. Similar to previous polls, Hillary Clinton is beating Donald Trump handily (45-31) and Governor Sam Brownback has an abysmal favorable rating of 18 percent (only 31 percent amongst registered Republicans). After hearing balanced messaging on both candidates, Sidie leads Yoder 44-40.