House Democrats add Latino-heavy districts to most vulnerable list for 2026
House Democrats are making it official: Latino voters have shifted their battleground map.
Their campaign arm is unveiling its list of top battleground incumbents to defend in 2026, giving the first insight into how the party views the midterm elections — with notable new additions to reflect a shift toward President Donald Trump in some majority-Latino congressional districts
The 26-member “frontline” list provided first to POLITICO otherwise largely matches the list of districts where Democrats played defense last cycle. As Democrats continue their post-election autopsy, the list reveals where the party thinks it is most vulnerable and will have to dedicate resources to protect incumbents.
Texas Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez weren’t initially on the list last cycle but saw their South Texas districts, some of the most heavily Latino in the country, shift dramatically toward Trump. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) is also on the list (though she was added later last cycle), meaning all three Democratic House members from Nevada will be considered “frontliners.” Another once-safe district, the North Jersey seat held by Rep. Nellie Pou, was deep-blue territory for years before Trump won it this past cycle.
Although there are warning signs that could signal a broader shift among Latino voters away from Democrats, the party still seemed confident about its potential to capture the majority next year.
“With the cost of living still top of mind for voters, and House Republicans actively pushing disastrous policies that further increase costs, it’s clear that House Democrats are poised to retake the majority in 2026,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) in a statement.
The DCCC list is a perennial source of heartburn — and sometimes conflict — among lawmakers who jockey to get onto the list because it helps allocate party resources and leads to a boost in fundraising and attention. With a shrinking number of competitive congressional seats, much of the list remains the same between elections, with changes based on factors such as how specific candidates performed and how presidential results emerged on a district-by-district basis.
Trump’s dominance last fall has changed the overall landscape. Thirteen Democrats now represent seats won by Trump in 2024, while only three Republicans represent seats won by former Vice President Kamala Harris. So even as the narrow House margin means Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to win back the majority, they have to simultaneously defend many seats.
Recently flipped seats in California and New York like those held by Reps. George Whitesides, Derek Tran, Laura Gillen and Josh Riley, were also added to the list.
There were also some subtractions from last cycle’s list. Several midwestern Democrats — Reps. Angie Craig of Minnesota, Eric Sorensen and Nikki Budzinski of Illinois, and Hillary Scholten of Michigan — were removed after handily dispatching their opponents.
The full list of lawmakers:
- Josh Harder (Calif.)
- Adam Gray (Calif.)
- George Whitesides (Calif.)
- Derek Tran (Calif.)
- Dave Min (Calif.)
- Jahana Hayes (Conn.)
- Frank Mrvan (Ind.)
- Jared Golden (Maine)
- Kristen McDonald Rivet (Mich.)
- Don Davis (N.C.)
- Nellie Pou (N.J.)
- Gabe Vasquez (N.M.)
- Dina Titus (Nev.)
- Susie Lee (Nev.)
- Steven Horsford (Nev.)
- Tom Suozzi (N.Y.)
- Laura Gillen (N.Y.)
- Josh Riley (N.Y.)
- John Mannion (N.Y.)
- Marcy Kaptur (Ohio)
- Emilia Sykes (Ohio)
- Janelle Bynum (Ore.)
- Henry Cuellar (Texas)
- Vicente Gonzalez (Texas)
- Eugene Vindman (Va.)
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.)
Topics
-
Trump-district Democrats face risky vote on GOP spending bill
House Democrats in districts carried by President Trump are confronting a potentially risky vote next week when GOP leaders are expected to put their partisan government funding bill on the floor. ...The Hill - 5h -
Senate Democrats' impending choice: Shutdown or surrender
House Democrats say they won't vote for the House GOP's spending plan. Democrats across the Capitol aren't so sure.Politico - 2d -
A Sensitive Complex Housing a CIA Facility Was on GSA's List of US Properties for Sale
Plans to redevelop a Northern Virginia warehouse site have long been complicated by the area’s worst-kept secret—the presence of a CIA facility. The GSA put the site up for sale anyway.Wired - 2d -
House Republicans unveil spending bill boosting defense and trimming all else
Strategy is not likely to earn Democrats’ votes, so Trump is leaning on Republicans to force it through. US House Republicans unveiled a spending bill Saturday that would keep federal agencies ...The Guardian - 21h -
Top budget Democrat: GOP spending bill hands ‘a blank check to Elon Musk’
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, slammed the new House Republicans’ six-month stopgap funding bill, claiming it is a “blank check” for tech ...The Hill - 18h -
Revealed: House of Lords members have given £109m to political parties
Conservatives benefit most from donations provided either before or after peers secured their seats. Cash before honours: the Tory donors made peers who barely speak in Lords . Peers who sat ...The Guardian - 1h -
Trump to lead task force for 2026 World Cup
President Donald Trump created a task force Friday to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which will bring the globe's premier soccer tournament to North America.ESPN - 1d -
FIFA, Infantino can have a World Cup halftime show: Just end it in 15 minutes
I don't mind FIFA adding a Super Bowl-style halftime show during the 2026 World Cup final -- as long as they don't mess with the most important thing in soccer: halftime can't be longer than 15 ...ESPN - 20h -
GOP funding patch boosts defense and deportations, cuts other programs
Ahead of a Friday shutdown deadline, House GOP leaders are serving up a plan Democrats will despise.Politico - 1d -
Tree loss from hurricane leaves Asheville vulnerable to new climate shocks
Damage to trees in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene was ‘extraordinary and humbling’ but urban areas face particular problems. The city of Asheville and its surrounding areas have been ...The Guardian - 3h -
US exits fund that compensates poorer countries for global heating
Trump pulls out of Cop28 loss and damage deal that recognises harms done by richer, polluting economies to vulnerable nations. The Trump administration has withdrawn the US from a global agreement ...The Guardian - 1d -
Democrats struggle against relentless Republican hammering on immigration
Republicans put Democrats in the hot seat as they continue to try and win the messaging wars on immigration policy.Politico - 3d -
Apple delays Siri AI improvements to 2026
"It's going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year," the company said Friday.CNBC - 1d -
Gavin Newsom splits with Democrats on transgender athletes
California's Democratic governor is already facing blowback from his own party after comments he made in the debut episode of his podcast "This is Gavin Newsom."CBS News - 2d -
Democrats need ‘new voices’ in fight against Trump, says Sen. Slotkin
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who delivered the Democratic response to President Trump’s joint address, says Democrats are still “finding our ...NBC News - 1h -
US Secret Service shoots armed man outside White House
President Donald Trump was not in the White House at the time.BBC News - 1h -
A prehistoric creature gets new life and a silent Democratic protest: The news quiz
A traveler got a very unpleasant welcome to Boston, Democrats staged a silent protest and a jewel thief got creative.NBC News - 1d -
James Carville is wrong. Democrats should fight, not ‘play dead.’
Democrats must fight back against Trump and his agenda, as a lack of action will make them appear weak and Americans will despise weakness.The Hill - 22h -
Auto Legends adds $1M to its funding round in Coinbase Ventures deal
Auto Legends, a social drag racing Web3 game, has added $1 million in a strategic investment from Coinbase Ventures' Base Ecosystem Fund.VentureBeat - 3d -
House GOP releases stopgap bill to avert shutdown
House GOP leaders on Saturday unveiled a stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, that will fund the government at current levels through September 2025.ABC News - 19h -
The pink protest at Trump’s speech shows the Democrats aren’t coming to save us
The general reaction is that this was yet another stunning example of how spineless and performative the Democrats are. Happy International Women’s Day (IWD), everyone! I’ve got some good news and ...The Guardian - 1d -
‘Gut punch’: Democrats decry Trump's plan to cut 80,000 at Veterans Affairs
Democrat lawmakers and veterans' groups are fuming over the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) plans to cut roughly 80,000 employees in the coming months, decrying the lack of transparency and ...The Hill - 5h -
Trump creates 2026 FIFA World Cup task force
"I think it's going to make it more exciting," Mr. Trump said of playing the World Cup amid sharp rhetoric between leaders of the host nations amid the on-again, off-again tariffs.CBS News - 1d -
House unveils stopgap measure to keep government funded, avert shutdown
The continuing resolution bill will go to the House Rules Committee on Monday and a floor vote is expected Tuesday.CBS News - 14h -
Secret Service shoot man carrying gun near White House
A man brandished a firearm near the White House, leading to an "armed confrontation," the Secret Service said in a statement.CBS News - 1h -
I’m a psychologist who studies couples—if you say 'yes' to these 4 questions, your relationship is stronger than most
Psychologist Mark Travers has spent most of his career studying what makes marriages successful. If you answer “yes” to each of these questions, he says, there’s no doubt that your relationship ...CNBC - 2h -
'SNL' taps into cynicism over Elon Musk's White House influence
Questions about tech investor Elon Musk's extraordinary influence in President Donald Trump's White House found answers that doubled as punchlines on "Saturday Night Live."NBC News - 10h -
Phillips produces 'the most stunning of catches' to dismiss Gill
Glenn Phillips produces yet another "incredible" piece of fielding, this time dismissing Shubman Gill for 31 runs with a leaping catch at cover to leave India on 105-1 in the Champions Trophy final ...BBC News - 51m -
Updated list of Bruins' NHL draft picks after trade deadline moves
Here's an updated look at all of the Bruins' future draft picks after they made several moves before the 2025 NHL trade deadline.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Sen. Slotkin says Democrats and Republicans ‘need to do better and act like adults’: Full interview
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) exclusively joins Meet the Press to discuss how Democrats are responding to the Trump administration and who could pick up the mantle of leadership for her party.NBC News - 2h -
First-ever White House crypto summit leaves some investors unhappy
The White House hosted its first-ever “crypto summit” Friday, convening top executives from various digital asset firms to discuss the Trump administration’s commitment to rolling back the ...NBC News - 1d -
Al Green censure highlights increased appetite for retribution in House
A formal House reprimand didn't contain the fallout from Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) interrupting President Trump’s speech to Congress, showing how petty fights and demands for retribution have become ...The Hill - 23h -
House GOP seeks spending cuts, defense increases in plan to avert shutdown
House Republicans on Saturday unveiled a six-month stopgap government funding plan, that seeks cuts to nondefense programs while boosting funding for defense. The bill's rollout kicks off a crucial ...The Hill - 23h -
Secret Service shoots armed man in confrontation near White House
The U.S. Secret Service shot an adult male near the White House in Washington, D.C., shortly after midnight on Sunday after an “armed confrontation” with law enforcement, according to the agency.NBC News - 4h -
Secret Service shoots armed ‘suicidal’ man near White House
The Secret Service reports it shot a man near the White House after agents were alerted to a “suicidal individual” in the area. They say the shooting happened “following an armed confrontation with ...NBC News - 3h -
The Best Cinderella Story in Men’s College Basketball Comes With a Twist
St. Thomas, coached by a former psychology professor, is good enough to play in the N.C.A.A. Tournament. It has to wait until 2026.The New York Times - 1d -
QB1 & only: Giants ink DeVito, lone QB on roster
The Giants have re-signed quarterback Tommy DeVito to a one-year, $1 million deal. DeVito is the only quarterback on New York's roster, with the team expected to add a veteran in free agency.ESPN - 20h -
Trump lauds 'very good funding bill' after House GOP unveils CR
President Trump was quick to throw his support behind the House GOP's stopgap funding bill Saturday afternoon, calling it a "very good funding bill." "The House and Senate have put together, under ...The Hill - 21h -
The Trump Doctrine: The World Is a Zero-Sum Game
Whoever pays the most into the pot is the loser. Whoever gets the most is the winner.The New York Times - 1d
More from Politico
-
Frustrated Dems unleash the F-bombs
Profanity isn’t new in politics. But it’s reaching new heights on the left.Politico - 1h -
Funding bill skips measure to avert physician pay cuts, a blow to GOP Doctors Caucus
A key Republican said inclusion of the language would be a “line in the sand” necessary for his support.Politico - 21h -
GOP funding patch boosts defense and deportations, cuts other programs
Ahead of a Friday shutdown deadline, House GOP leaders are serving up a plan Democrats will despise.Politico - 1d -
House Dems still offer no promises to help GOP avoid shutdown
Politico - 1d -
Johnson defends Musk, says essential veteran jobs ‘will come back’
Politico - 1d
More in Politics
-
Lutnick defends Trump tariffs: ‘This is the way you run the country’
Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick defended President Trump’s approach to tariffs, saying on Sunday the president is focused on stopping fentanyl from entering the country and is actively engaging with ...The Hill - 25m -
Live updates: Trump says he hates to 'predict things like that’ when asked if he expects a recession
House Republicans on Saturday unveiled a 99-page, six-month stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown and increase defense funding while seeking cuts for nondefense programs, which will ...The Hill - 30m -
Trump on if he's expecting recession this year: 'I hate to predict things like that'
President Trump faced a slew of questions about the economic ripple effects of his tariff policy during an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, including whether he worried about a looming ...The Hill - 38m -
Trump hostage envoy says ‘deal’ in which every Hamas hostage freed ‘could come together within weeks’
Adam Boehler, the White House Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, said Sunday that a “deal” in which every hostage taken by Palestinian militant group Hamas is freed “could come together in weeks.” ...The Hill - 48m -
Lutnick: ‘There’s going to be no recession in America’
Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick shot down the possibility of a forthcoming recession in America, in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “Absolutely not,” Lutnick said when asked ...The Hill - 1h