WASHINGTON — The political arm of the House’s largest bloc of moderate Democrats is claiming much of the credit for the party’s midterm gains, saying candidates it backed flipped 32 Republican-held seats, including New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.
The New Democrat Coalition Action Fund said in a Nov. 6 release that Rebecca Bennett, a Navy helicopter pilot, defeated Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in NJ-07, one of the most closely watched races in the state. It was the only New Jersey contest named in the group’s list of called races.
The group described its members as the “majority makers” for House Democrats and said the coalition is projected to grow to at least 142 members in the next Congress. It said all 22 of its incumbent members in competitive Frontline districts were reelected, as of the time its tally was compiled.
Among the other flips the group listed were Cait Conley’s win over Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th District, Bob Harvie’s defeat of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania’s 1st District and Janelle Stelson’s victory over Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th District.
Coalition Chair Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., has said the bloc’s “first, second, and third priority legislatively is making life easier for folks,” according to the release, which said the group intends to shape the new majority’s agenda around lowering costs.
The action fund said it endorsed 50 candidates this cycle, including 36 of the 46 candidates in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program, and that 92% of its endorsed candidates won their primaries.
It also said it raised or bundled more than $14 million for members and candidates, including more than $3 million for the DCCC, and spent $600,000 on research and polling. According to the group, its Red to Blue challengers out-raised sitting Republican incumbents in 30 of 36 races in the third quarter.
The release compiled post-election coverage from outlets including The New York Times, POLITICO, The Washington Post and The Associated Press. The New Democrat Coalition is a caucus of House Democrats that describes itself as pragmatic and pro-growth.
This report is based on information from the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund.
Source: New Democrat Coalition Action Fund
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