Congressional Democrats move from 'panic' to 'wary relief': Is the chaos over?
After weeks of anxiety about Biden potentially jeopardizing their chances in the House and Senate races, down-ballot Democrats are beginning to relax.
TroibNews 
Congressional Democrats are cautiously coming to a realization: the situation might not be hopeless.
President Joe Biden’s departure from the presidential race has revitalized their efforts to control Congress, and candidates within the party are feeling a renewed sense of possibility. Within mere hours, many of the Democratic incumbents most at risk rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the prospective nominee, eager to present a united front after tumultuous weeks.
Despite this, few believe that Harris will easily defeat Trump and enhance Democratic chances of taking the House or retaining the Senate. However, this shift is a relief after three weeks of distress over Biden’s weaknesses. Democrats are now swiftly determining how best to utilize Harris in their campaigns, with new polling and pro-Harris messaging being tested.
“It’s definitely new energy,” remarked Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.), chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition. Kuster, who has endorsed Harris and will retire at the term’s end, had been studying polling data in numerous vulnerable districts and found the outlook grim.
"It was tough,” she said. “I think we can turn that around."
Biden’s poor debate performance and declining poll numbers had highlighted a dire scenario for down-ballot candidates, signaling the need to distance themselves from him significantly.
Though there is still doubt among some battleground Democrats regarding Harris’s ability to win in Trump-favored districts, the party base is showing increased enthusiasm for the first time in the 2024 campaign. This enthusiasm extends beyond the presidential race, with significant fundraising boosts reported by the Senate and House Democratic campaign arms following Biden’s exit.
The ability of the party to secure down-ballot victories remains uncertain. While Democrats are relieved to shed Biden’s burdens, the question remains whether Harris can put enough districts in play to gain control of a congressional chamber.
“It’s not even necessarily about Harris boosting them — it’s about Biden not dragging them down,” said an aide to a battleground Democrat.
The party continues to explore fundamental aspects of Harris’s candidacy, such as her performance in essential House and Senate races and the effectiveness of different campaign messages. This evaluative process will require time that the party may not have.
Current polling does not provide reliable insights into Harris’s standing in key battlegrounds. New rounds of polling are underway, helping candidates decide whether to align more closely with Harris or maintain a distance.
Many Democrats believe that groups such as women, young voters, and voters of color might be more energized by Harris’s candidacy. Biden’s decline was partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among younger and minority voters.
Local levels of support for Harris vary. For example, Rep. Abigail Spanberger from a swing district in Virginia, and Rep. Brad Schneider from Illinois, reported increased enthusiasm for Harris in their constituencies.
Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) has sensed more energy for Harris than Biden, emphasizing the necessity to win the election.
Some Democrats, however, remain cautious, emphasizing that Harris will need to actively engage and campaign in their districts.
“There seems to be a jolt of enthusiasm. But, how long does that last? ... Three months is an eternity,” commented Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, representing a battleground district in South Texas.
Gonzalez has reservations about Harris’s handling of border issues and has refrained from endorsing her so far.
“She needs to engage with border communities,” he said. “It's a very important part of the country.”
There are significant challenges ahead. Harris will need to maintain discipline under expected Republican attacks, as indicated by criticisms labeling her a “San Francisco liberal.”
Democratic strategists acknowledge the importance of Harris’s running mate, with several advocating for their preferred candidates. For instance, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez supports Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright are pushing for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
“I believe that he would make a valuable addition to the Democratic presidential ticket, and I would fully endorse his candidacy,” Wild said.
Though many Democrats have aligned with Harris to bring an end to recent chaos, not all are enthusiastic. By Monday, Harris had garnered support from nearly every vulnerable Senate Democrat and most of the approximately 30 endangered House Democrats. However, support from challengers in open and GOP-held seats has been less forthcoming.
Democrat Josh Riley, challenging GOP Rep. Marc Molinaro in New York, offered tepid support for Harris, indicating readiness to back the nominee while maintaining accountability based on actions that affect his district.
Emily Ngo in New York contributed to this report.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
President Joe Biden’s departure from the presidential race has revitalized their efforts to control Congress, and candidates within the party are feeling a renewed sense of possibility. Within mere hours, many of the Democratic incumbents most at risk rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the prospective nominee, eager to present a united front after tumultuous weeks.
Despite this, few believe that Harris will easily defeat Trump and enhance Democratic chances of taking the House or retaining the Senate. However, this shift is a relief after three weeks of distress over Biden’s weaknesses. Democrats are now swiftly determining how best to utilize Harris in their campaigns, with new polling and pro-Harris messaging being tested.
“It’s definitely new energy,” remarked Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.), chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition. Kuster, who has endorsed Harris and will retire at the term’s end, had been studying polling data in numerous vulnerable districts and found the outlook grim.
"It was tough,” she said. “I think we can turn that around."
Biden’s poor debate performance and declining poll numbers had highlighted a dire scenario for down-ballot candidates, signaling the need to distance themselves from him significantly.
Though there is still doubt among some battleground Democrats regarding Harris’s ability to win in Trump-favored districts, the party base is showing increased enthusiasm for the first time in the 2024 campaign. This enthusiasm extends beyond the presidential race, with significant fundraising boosts reported by the Senate and House Democratic campaign arms following Biden’s exit.
The ability of the party to secure down-ballot victories remains uncertain. While Democrats are relieved to shed Biden’s burdens, the question remains whether Harris can put enough districts in play to gain control of a congressional chamber.
“It’s not even necessarily about Harris boosting them — it’s about Biden not dragging them down,” said an aide to a battleground Democrat.
The party continues to explore fundamental aspects of Harris’s candidacy, such as her performance in essential House and Senate races and the effectiveness of different campaign messages. This evaluative process will require time that the party may not have.
Current polling does not provide reliable insights into Harris’s standing in key battlegrounds. New rounds of polling are underway, helping candidates decide whether to align more closely with Harris or maintain a distance.
Many Democrats believe that groups such as women, young voters, and voters of color might be more energized by Harris’s candidacy. Biden’s decline was partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among younger and minority voters.
Local levels of support for Harris vary. For example, Rep. Abigail Spanberger from a swing district in Virginia, and Rep. Brad Schneider from Illinois, reported increased enthusiasm for Harris in their constituencies.
Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) has sensed more energy for Harris than Biden, emphasizing the necessity to win the election.
Some Democrats, however, remain cautious, emphasizing that Harris will need to actively engage and campaign in their districts.
“There seems to be a jolt of enthusiasm. But, how long does that last? ... Three months is an eternity,” commented Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, representing a battleground district in South Texas.
Gonzalez has reservations about Harris’s handling of border issues and has refrained from endorsing her so far.
“She needs to engage with border communities,” he said. “It's a very important part of the country.”
There are significant challenges ahead. Harris will need to maintain discipline under expected Republican attacks, as indicated by criticisms labeling her a “San Francisco liberal.”
Democratic strategists acknowledge the importance of Harris’s running mate, with several advocating for their preferred candidates. For instance, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez supports Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright are pushing for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
“I believe that he would make a valuable addition to the Democratic presidential ticket, and I would fully endorse his candidacy,” Wild said.
Though many Democrats have aligned with Harris to bring an end to recent chaos, not all are enthusiastic. By Monday, Harris had garnered support from nearly every vulnerable Senate Democrat and most of the approximately 30 endangered House Democrats. However, support from challengers in open and GOP-held seats has been less forthcoming.
Democrat Josh Riley, challenging GOP Rep. Marc Molinaro in New York, offered tepid support for Harris, indicating readiness to back the nominee while maintaining accountability based on actions that affect his district.
Emily Ngo in New York contributed to this report.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
