The House Democratic campaign arm's unusual new target: Democratic candidates

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) is employing an unusual tactic to blunt what they say is Republican meddling in their primaries: They have teamed up with the candidates they see as the "strongest" in key battleground districts, launching joint ad buys to squeeze out their Democratic primary opponents. Why it matters: This practice has infuriated parts of the party, particularly the progressive wing. "If DCCC were a good judge of electability, then we wouldn't be in the mess we're in," said Ravi Mangla, a spokesperson for the progressive Working Families Party, in a statement to Axios. DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement that "the stakes are incredibly high for the midterms" and it is "critical that Democrats have the strongest candidates possible in November to take back the House." Driving the news: The DCCC roiled certain corners of the party earlier this month by endorsing a slate of "Red to Blue" candidates in key battleground House districts that still had credible primary opponents. Jasmeet Bains, a California state Assembly member who is fighting with progressive political science professor Randy Villegas — who has led in fundraising and is neck-and-neck with Bains in polls — to take on Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.). Bob Brooks, the president of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, who dispatched three relatively well-funded opponents in his primary and will face off with Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.). Marlene Galán-Woods, a former TV news anchor in a primary field of five other candidates including former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah, who defeated Galán-Woods in the 2024 primary for the same seat. Joe Baldacci, a Maine state senator whose primary opponents for retiring Rep. Jared Golden's (D-Maine) seat include state Auditor Matthew Dunlap and former House staffer Jordan Wood. Johnny Garcia, a sheriff's deputy in a runoff with therapist Maureen Galindo, who finishe...

Original source: Axios