Democratic congressional campaign will go national, hit 'toxic' Trump, says chair

The Democrats’ campaign for congressional candidates in 2016, unlike recent cycles, will feature a “national” message that emphasizes Donald Trump’s “bullying” and “toxic” statements, Democratic Congressional Campaign (DCCC) Chair Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.Mex., told a National Press Club Newsmaker Tuesday.

Lujan said the DCCC will run an “aggressive” campaign with “national ads and staff communicating in the smartest way,” especially with millennials, people of color and women. The campaign will include TV ads, he said, adding that “We’ve only just begun.”

“We’re in a nationalized election focused on one person, and one person only -- Donald Trump.” Lujan said.

In responding to the event’s first question, from Club President Thomas Burr, about the apparent unique strategy to “nationalize” the congressional elections this cycle, Lujan explained that Trump’s divisiveness presents a “necessity” to produce a “national campaign” and message.

Asked whether Republican candidates could run away from Trump, Lujan said: “Trump is a bully, and Republicans are either on the record supporting him, or his voters are their base … They can’t run from the fact that his is the face of their party. By standing with Trump, Republicans are aiding and abetting Trump in his hate, bigotry, racism and misogyny.”

Lujan confirmed that Democrats would need to win 30 seats currently occupied by Republicans to gain a House majority. When asked if a “wave election” could happen, he said: “I don’t predict. Anything is possible when Donald Trump speaks.”

But, he continued, “The battlefield is expanding day by day into a positive environment. I am optimistic. “Districts that would have been 50-50 toss-ups under a conventional presidential election are now leaning in favor of Democrats.”

Lujan said 65 seats are “competitive,” offering details of races in Texas, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota and New York. DCCC’s polling shows that in swing seats, Clinton has a nine-point advantage over Trump, he said.

National trends work in the Democrats’ favor, Lujan said, pointing out that “the electorate is getting younger and more diverse, and more Democrats are moving from densely packed cities into Republican districts in the suburbs.”

Lujan also indicated that inaction by Congressional Republicans on important items on the national agenda is working to Democrats’ advantage. Such key issues as the Zika virus outbreak, the opioid addiction crisis and the Flint, Mich., water emergency “have yet to be addressed,” he said.

He also expressed frustration with Republican inaction on violence in American cities and gun deaths, citing both the police shootings of African-Americans around the country and the shootings against police in Dallas. “Before and after [Dallas], people speak in codes,” he said. “We’re better than that. We’re bigger than that. We need to make sure these atrocities never happen again.”

Asked whether polls that show both Trump and Hillary with negatives cancel each other out, he pointed out that Clinton was meeting with Sen. Sanders and receiving an endorsement “as we speak.” In contrast, he said that no one even knows who will speak at the upcoming Republican convention, which is due to nominate Trump, because so many have refused.