DelBene says Democrats have momentum 100 days before midterms
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene told CNBC Democrats can retake the House as affordability worries shape the 2026 midterm race.
By Theo Nakamura · Staff Writer
· 4 min read
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene says Democrats have momentum with 100 days left before the 2026 midterm elections, telling CNBC the party is positioned to win back the House. For voters and investors watching Washington, the stakes are control of Congress at a time when inflation, gas prices and household costs are central political issues.
DelBene, a Washington Democrat who leads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a CNBC interview that the party has strong candidates and a message centered on daily expenses. She argued that voters want lawmakers focused on the pressures facing families and accused Republicans of acting as a “rubber stamp” for President Donald Trump.
The DCCC is the campaign arm for House Democrats. Its job is to recruit candidates, raise money and help the party win seats in the House of Representatives.
Democrats are trying to flip a House that Republicans have narrowly controlled for the past two years. CNBC reported that Democrats’ path to a Senate majority looks harder.
Can Democrats win back the House?
Several public measures show Democrats with an edge in the fight for the House, though the race remains complicated. A Fox News poll found Democrats ahead of Republicans by seven percentage points on the generic ballot, while Emerson College Polling put the Democratic advantage at 11 points. CNBC’s All America Economic Survey, conducted earlier this month, found voters slightly preferred Democrats to control Congress in November.
The Cook Political Report has also described Democrats as slightly favored to win the House, according to CNBC. A generic ballot asks voters which party they would support for Congress, rather than naming specific candidates. It is useful as a national mood check, but individual districts still decide control of the House.
DelBene said affordability is the top concern she hears across the country, citing housing, food, health care, child care, energy and gasoline. CNBC reported that inflation has stayed elevated, the Iran war has continued, and gas prices have moved back above $4 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
DelBene said Democrats will keep arguing that Trump and Republicans are not taking affordability seriously. Republicans rejected that framing.
The National Republican Congressional Committee did not make its chair, Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, available for an interview with CNBC. NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella told CNBC that Republicans have “a more favorable map, stronger candidates, a deep fundraising advantage, and a winning message,” while criticizing Democrats over socialism and internal disputes.
What problems are Democrats facing?
Democrats still have several weak spots. CNBC reported that the party’s House campaign arm has faced criticism from Democrats over its decision to get involved in some contested primaries. In Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, Amish Shah, a doctor and former state representative, defeated Marlene Galán-Wood, who had DCCC backing, in a competitive Democratic primary.
Some Democrats have called for the DCCC to stay out of primaries or change how it endorses candidates, according to CNBC. DelBene said Democrats disagree internally on that question, but said the committee’s goal is to win competitive districts nationwide.
The party is also dealing with gains by its progressive wing, including candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. CNBC reported that DSA-supported candidates have defeated incumbent Democrats in states including New York and California.
DelBene framed the range of Democratic candidates as an advantage, saying swing-district contenders should fit their communities. She pointed to candidates supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders as well as Blue Dogs, a caucus of moderate House Democrats.
Money and image are also challenges. CNBC reported that Democrats trail the NRCC in fundraising. RealClearPolling data cited by CNBC showed Democrats were viewed as unfavorably as Republicans through June.
Redistricting adds another layer. CNBC reported that newly drawn congressional maps could help Republicans gain more than a handful of seats, though DelBene argued that GOP-drawn districts in places such as Texas and Florida could create pickup opportunities for Democrats. She accused Republicans of trying to “rig the system” through mid-decade redistricting and said voters oppose that approach.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
