House Democrats' campaign arm may intervene in primaries.

5 hours ago7 min read2 comments

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is once again preparing to play political kingmaker in crucial battleground districts, a move that signals an escalating war between the party establishment and its progressive grassroots. DCCC chair Suzan DelBene, when pressed by Axios at a Wednesday press conference, maintained the committee's longstanding policy of selective primary intervention—a strategy that has repeatedly sparked internal Democratic civil wars but which leaders defend as essential for winning competitive seats.This isn't some theoretical debate; we've seen this movie before, and the ending is always messy. Remember the 2018 midterms when the DCCC's blacklist policy against vendors working with challengers created open rebellion? Or last cycle's Oregon primary where the committee openly backed now-Rep.Janelle Bynum over a more liberal opponent? This is the eternal tension in Democratic politics: party strategists, who've crunched the numbers until their spreadsheets bleed, believe moderate candidates with electoral experience or national security credentials are the only viable options in purple districts. Meanwhile, the activist base—still furious over Gaza, climate inaction, and corporate influence—increasingly rallies behind outsider progressives who promise transformational change rather than cautious incrementalism.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tried to draw a bright line at the same press conference, emphasizing the DCCC would stay out of safe Democratic districts entirely, focusing instead on defending frontline incumbents and flipping Republican seats. But that strategic clarity vanishes when you look at Tuesday's developments, where Jeffries dodged questions about whether he'd deploy his own substantial campaign war chest to protect aging incumbents in solid blue districts who are being outraised by younger, hungrier challengers.The timing here is everything—we're in the middle of a government shutdown, so leadership can punt these uncomfortable conversations, but make no mistake, the battle lines are being drawn right now. This isn't just about 2026; it's about the soul of the Democratic Party. Do they prioritize electability above all else, even if it means alienating their most passionate supporters? Or do they trust the grassroots to pick champions who might inspire higher turnout but could struggle in general elections? The DCCC's coming interventions—or lack thereof—will answer that question definitively.

#featured

#DCCC

#primary elections

#Democratic Party

#Suzan DelBene

#Hakeem Jeffries

#progressive candidates

#swing districts