TARGET RACE TALLY: DLCC Surpasses 100 Target Races In Key Battleground States at Historic Pace

This is the earliest point in the cycle that the DLCC has ever announced 100 Target Races as we continue to build the largest Target Map of opportunities in the organization’s history

WASHINGTON — As the DLCC prepares for a historic midterm year with 42 chambers on our Target Map, we’ve rolled out our first 100 Target Races earlier than ever. These candidates are running in must-win districts in key states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Maine, and Wisconsin, and in flippable districts in red states like North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Iowa, and Indiana.

These Target Races represent the most competitive, must-win races across the country that will deliver a once-in-a-generation shift of the balance of power in state legislatures across the DLCC’s Target Map. Through early infrastructure and support around candidate recruitment, the DLCC has helped target states develop programs to bring more competitive Target Races online – which is especially important now that the conservative Supreme Court majority has unleashed rampant Republican gerrymandering.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:

“As costs soar and Republicans double down on rigging their way to power, building durable power in state legislatures is mission-critical to defend our future. The DLCC is meeting this moment head-on with our most ambitious strategy to date, including launching our first 100 Target Races across ten states earlier than ever. We’ll be with our Target Race candidates every step of the way between now and November to ensure strong campaigns are ready to flip seats and build new majorities in states across the country. The DLCC is only just getting started as we gear up to target over 500 races across the country. Republicans have been put on notice that the DLCC is on offense to transform the landscape of state legislative power for years to come.”

The DLCC plans to announce at least 500 Target Races throughout 2026, including 300 Republican-held districts, to drive our historic offensive midterm strategy. State Democrats are on offense with the largest-ever Target Map and single-year budget across 42 chambers in 27 states. The DLCC will be working directly with caucuses and Target Race candidates to deliver support and resources for data, research, polling, paid communication, and direct voter contact. Flipping just 19 seats on the DLCC’s Target Map could establish four new Democratic trifectas and six new Democratic majorities.

The DLCC’s complete slate of Target Race candidates so far: 

Texas House Targets:

• Stephanie Guerrero Sáenz, HD-34
• Oziel “Ozzie” Ochoa Jr., HD-37
• Julio Salinas, HD-41
• Chris Jimenez, HD-52
• Brittany Black, HD-61
• Jordan Wheatley, HD-67
• Katie O’Brien Duzan, HD-94
• Allison Mitchell, HD-108
• Zach Herbert, HD-112
• Zack Dunn, HD-121
• Josh Wallenstein, HD-133
• Tyler Smith, HD-138
• Mihaela Plesa, HD-70
• Eddie Morales, HD-74
• Kristian Carranza, HD-118

Pennsylvania House Targets:

• Bryan Allen, HD-18
• Dr. Arvind Venkat, HD-30
• Brad Chambers, HD-41
• Brittany Bloam, HD-45
• Sara Agerton, HD-88
• Jessica McClay, HD-121
• Jeff Warren, HD-137
• Kristin Egan, HD-142
• Timothy Hayes, HD-143
• Ryan Bizzarro, HD-03
• Robert Matzie, HD-16
• Mandy Steele, HD-33
• Hadley Haas, HD-44
• Paul Takac, HD-82
• Jim Haddock, HD-118
• Brian Munroe, HD-144
• Elizabeth Moro, HD-160

Pennsylvania Senate Targets:

• Eileen Hartnett Albillar, SD-06
• Chris Thomas, SD-24
• Brian Wrightson, SD-40
• Nick Miller, SD-14
• James Malone, SD-36

Indiana House Targets:

• Ryan Kominakis, HD-04
• Rep. Randy Novak, HD-09
• Rep. Chuck Moseley, HD-10
• Racheal Bleicher, HD-24
• Tiffany Stoner, HD-25
• Sara Gullion, HD-34
• Kim Townsend, HD-36
• Lindsay Gramlich, HD-39
• Rep. Tonya Pfaff, HD-43
• Amy Huffman Oliver, HD-62
• Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, HD-71

Arizona House Targets:

• Stephanie Simacek, LD-02
• Karen Gresham, LD-04
• Tammy Caputi, LD-04
• Lorena Austin, LD-09
• Jacob Martinez, LD-09
• Racquel “Rockee” Armstrong, LD-13
• Jacob Weinberg, LD-13
• Julia Romero Gusse, LD-16
• Kevin Volk, LD-17
• Holly Lyon, LD-17

Arizona Senate Targets:

• Aaron Lieberman, LD-04
• Kiana Sears, LD-09
• Kristie O’Brien, LD-13
• Edgar Soto, LD-17
• Brian Fernandez, LD-23

Maine House Targets:

• Dani O’Halloran, HD-20
• Wayne Farrin, HD-47
• Sally Cluchey, HD-52
• Scott Harriman, HD-94
• Kilton Webb, HD-98

Maine Senate Targets:

• Chip Curry, SD-11
• Cameron Reny, SD-13

Michigan House Targets:

• Mai Xiong, HD-13
• Jaime Churches, HD-27
• Joey Andrews, HD-38
• Jim Haadsma, HD-44
• Denise Mentzer, HD-61

Michigan Senate Targets:

• Darrin Camilleri, SD-04
• Kevin Hertel, SD-12
• Sue Shink, SD-14

Wisconsin Assembly Targets:

• Joe Sheehan, AD-26
• Ryan Spaude, AD-89
• Jodi Emerson, AD-91
• Steve Doyle, AD-94

Wisconsin Senate Targets:

• Jeff Smith, SD-31

North Carolina House Targets:

• Dante Pittman, HD-24
• Curtis McRae, HD-32
• Evonne Hopkins, HD-35
• Winn Decker, HD-37
• Garland Pierce, HD-48
• Amy Taylor North, HD-74
• Beth Helfrich, HD-98
• Ken McCool, HD-105
• Lindsey Prather, HD-115

North Carolina Senate Targets:

• James Gailliard, SD-11
• April Cook, SD-34
• Woodson Bradley, SD-42

Georgia House Targets:

• Adam Cleveland, HD-48
• Farooq Mughal, HD-105
• Tangie Herring, HD-145

Iowa Senate Targets:

• Catelin Drey, SD-01
• Heather Matson, SD-21

• Mike Zimmer, SD-35

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) leads the national strategy to secure Democratic power in our state legislatures. We are the campaign arm for more than 3,000 state legislators and thousands of candidates across all 50 states who are advancing Democratic values and standing up to the dangerous MAGA agenda every single day. Over the last decade, our work has flipped 10 new chamber majorities. Those new majorities have ensured Democrats in state legislatures are positioned to protect our democracy and fundamental rights, while addressing the high cost of living and advancing opportunities. The DLCC’s national strategy and target map continue to pinpoint the most efficient paths to Democratic power across all 50 states.