RELEASE: DLCC Announces First 50 Target Races for the Midterms

The DLCC is launching a slate of must-watch elections across Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Iowa

WASHINGTON — Today, the DLCC announced our first 50 Target Races for the 2026 midterms across key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Iowa. These 50 races are the first of several slates to come ahead of November – all of which represent the most competitive races at this ballot level, including districts where majorities and other benchmarks of power will be decided.

The DLCC plans to announce at least 500 Target Races throughout 2026, including 300 Republican-held districts, to drive our historic 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.

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

“Strong candidates are the foundation of strong campaigns, and our first 50 Target Races are among the most consequential races to watch this November. Each of these candidates is ready to hit the ground running as they fight to bring down prices for working families, and the DLCC will be with them every step of the way between now and November. State Democrats have been scoring upset victories all cycle long, and we are on offense to push into Republican territory and pick up new majorities in states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and more. The DLCC will target hundreds of seats across the country this November, and the campaigns we’re building will make 2026 one for the history books.”

The DLCC’s first 50 Target Races for the midterms include:

Pennsylvania House Targets

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

Nick Miller, SD-14
James Malone, SD-36

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

Arizona Senate Targets

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

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
Terence Everitt, SD-18
April Cook, SD-34
Woodson Bradley, SD-42

Georgia House Targets

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

Texas House Targets

Mihaela Plesa, HD-70
Eddie Morales, HD-74
Kristian Carranza, HD-118

Iowa Senate

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.

###