The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced that it has added Bob Harvie AND Bob Brooks to its highly competitive Red to Blue program, signaling that DCCC is invested in providing them with the support they need to continue building a winning campaign.
“As Americans reject House Republicans’ disastrous, costly agenda, House Democrats have the momentum to regain the majority. These latest additions to our Red to Blue agenda reflect the strength of our people-first message and the broad appeal of our top candidates,” said DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene. “These candidates will win because they are authentic, independent leaders rooted in their communities, showing they have what it takes to win and fight to make life more affordable for hardworking families.”
Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner, is seeking the Democratic nomination in PA-01, hoping to unseat a five-term incumbent Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. Faces Lucia Simonelli at the primary school on May 19.
“Bob Harvie is a proud son of Bucks County and has an undeniable history of showing up and serving the community that raised him. Bob is the strongest candidate who can take on Brian Fitzpatrick and ultimately give Bucks and Montgomery County families a leader in Congress who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable,” DelBene said.
Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, is seeking the Democratic nomination in PA-07, hoping to unseat the freshman incumbent Representative Ryan Mackenzie. He is competing for the nomination against three other contenders, including a former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswellformer Northampton County Executive Lamont McClureand director of energy Carol Obando-Derstine.
“As a Bethlehem firefighter and union president for 20 years, Bob Brooks is on the front lines serving the community he loves. He understands the challenges that hard-working Lehigh Valley families face because he has lived them, and he has the calluses on his hands to prove it. He is the strongest candidate who can flip this must-see seat in November and deliver real results for his community,” DelBene said.
McClure he told Axios in a telephone interview that being left out would not affect his relationship with party leaders if he wins.
“When I become our candidate and [GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie] it’s a piece of cake, I think the DCCC and all its members will be really cheerful about it,” he said.
The Red to Blue program is designed to provide top candidates with organizational and fundraising support to facilitate them continue to build winning campaigns. Additionally, through Red to Blue, DCCC provides strategic guidance, staffing resources, candidate training, fundraising support and more.
The election has upset parts of the Latino community who see the endorsement as putting a “thumb on the scale” of the primary process.
BOLD PAC, the campaign committee of the Congressional Latino Caucus, he told Semaphore that Democrats will have to work to gain the trust of Latino voters, bypassing preferred candidates in districts with significant Latino populations.
“Latino votes and candidates – how Garish (Villegas, California) i Carol (Obando-Derstine) – they are not a small factor in the fight for a majority in the House; play a key role in this,” said the BOLD PAC chairman Representative Linda Sánchez (D-California).
“The Democratic Party has clearly made progress in gaining the trust of Latinos, but we still have a long way to go and we will be with Randy and Carol every step of the way through their primary elections.”
Red to Blue currently has four Latino candidates, including three who were added on Monday.
