Democrats eye long-shot House races as midterm battlefield widens

Democrats are quietly expanding their House battlefield into districts that have not been competitive for years, hoping that a favourable national climate could turn long-shot races into upsets.

While the party's most visible target remains Nebraska's 2nd District — the Omaha-based 'blue dot' — the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has also added the state's more conservative 1st District to its list of races 'in play'. The seat has not elected a Democrat since 1964.

Chris Backemeyer, a former senior State Department official and Lincoln native, is the Democratic nominee. He says he left his Washington job after the Department of Government Efficiency sought mass firings, and returned home to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Flood, who has won his last two elections by more than 20 points.

In Kentucky, the open 6th District seat — vacated by Rep. Andy Barr, who is running for Senate — pits former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo against Republican Ralph Alvarado. Democrats note that the district backed Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in 2023, though it comfortably re-elected Barr in 2024.

Nevada's 2nd District, which includes Reno and Carson City, has never sent a Democrat to Congress. Republican Rep. Mark Amodei is retiring, and his preferred successor lost the primary to David Flippo, a Trump-endorsed Air Force veteran. Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former state legislative leader, is arguing she can counter federal overreach in the high-desert district.

South Carolina's 1st District is open after Rep. Nancy Mace's failed gubernatorial bid. Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt faces Democrat Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy vice admiral who was dismissed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The district has swung between parties in recent cycles, though redistricting has made it more Republican.

In Texas, the redrawn 35th District — once safely Democratic — now leans Republican. Democrat Johnny Garcia, a former Bexar County sheriff, is running as a 'law-and-order' candidate who opposes President Donald Trump's tariffs. He faces Republican Carlos De La Cruz, whose sister, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, represents a neighbouring district.

Republican leaders have dismissed the expanded map as wishful thinking, but Democrats argue that voter frustration over the Iran war and inflation could produce a wave similar to 2018.