This morning, the DCCC announced that two Black candidates running for Congress, Justin Pearson in Tennessee’s 9th congressional district, and Chris Jones, running in Arkansas’ 2nd congressional district, were added to the Red to Blue list. Jones was the democratic nominee for Governor in Arkansas in 2022. Pearson made national news in 2023 as part of the Tennessee Three, who protested against gun violence after the 2023 Covenant School massacre in Nashville that killed six people including three nine-year-olds.
➡️ The Red to Blue program started in 2006 and is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s flagship program for challengers trying to flip Republican-held congressional seats. Being named to the Red to Blue list is essentially the national party telling donors, volunteers and the press that a candidate is a serious contender in a key race.
How it works. Candidates don’t get on the list automatically. The DCCC says the program gives top-tier candidates organizational and fundraising support. The 40 person list had not one Black candidate until today. On Oct. 2, DCCC announced that Virginia’s 6th congressional district was “in play.” That race features democrat Beth Macy against Republican incumbent Rep. Ben Cline.
Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was asked about the Red to Blue list having no Black candidates by Black Virginia News at his weekly presser on September 30.
In Virginia, three candidates are on the DCCC’s 2026 Red to Blue list:
- VA-01: Shannon Taylor, Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney, is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman.
- VA-02: Elaine Luria is in a rematch with Rep. Jen Kiggans, who defeated her 52%-48% in 2022.
- VA-05: Tom Perriello was added to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program in August. He faces Rep. John McGuire in a Charlottesville-to-Lynchburg district Trump carried by over 12 points.
