Vulnerable House Democrats look to get boost from Harris

Vulnerable House Democrats are circling the wagons around Vice President Harris, arguing that their new likely presidential nominee will only increase excitement for Democrats up and down the ballot as they work to recapture the lower chamber in November.

The majority of frontliners — a title given to vulnerable lawmakers running in the most competitive races this cycle — have thrown their support behind Harris, just one day after President Biden withdrew from the 2024 race and endorsed his No. 2.

Asked on Monday if he is happier running with Harris at the top of the ticket rather than Biden, Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), a frontliner who has endorsed the vice president, told The Hill: “Yes.”

“One is, she’ll do the job well. Two, she will energize an entire group of voters who have been frustrated for a long time,” Landsman added when pressed on his endorsement of Harris. “Been frustrated and feeling like they’re not part of this. And some of those folks are Democrats, some of those folks are young people, some of them are independents, some of them will be moderate Republicans.”

There are, to be sure, some outliers. A handful of frontliners have stopped short of endorsing Harris’s nascent bid, with some brushing aside questions when pressed by The Hill.

But the overwhelming support from the most vulnerable Democrats is a reassuring sign for Harris’s nascent campaign, which she is looking to turbocharge in the lead-up to next month’s convention in Chicago.

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), a frontliner who heads the Congressional Black Caucus, rejected having any concerns about Harris being a drag on down-ballot races — ”absolutely not” — citing the excitement among Democrats with their new nominee.

“She’s already showing that there’s energy and excitement that’s gonna help the entire up and down the ballot,” he said.

Biden sent shockwaves through the political universe Sunday afternoon when — after weeks of speculation following his lackluster debate performance — he announced that he would withdraw from the 2024 race and endorsed Harris as the new nominee, significantly shaking up the race just over 100 days out from Election Day.

The news came after a large number of House Democrats — including many frontliners, like Landsman — called on Biden to step aside from the ticket, raising concerns about Biden’s ability to beat Trump in November.

The majority of this cycle’s 31 frontliners have backed Harris as the new nominee, lauding her as a strong candidate to serve as a contrast to Trump. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) raked in nearly $1 million in the first 24 hours after Biden’s decision, which was the campaign arm’s best day in its history, the group announced on Monday.

Harris’s campaign, meanwhile, pulled in $81 million in its first 24 hours of existence.

“People are excited about her candidacy,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who served as battleground leadership representative in the House Democratic Caucus. “All of the metrics between the fundraising and the engagement. I mean, I have received incoming saying ‘how do I get a ticket to the convention?’”

“I think she’s an extraordinary person and people see that,” she added. “I think she will continue to generate a lot of enthusiasm which has, like obvious positive impact down-ballot.”

Still, however, some vulnerable Democrats are not yet taking the plunge, stopping short of backing Harris in the immediate aftermath of Biden’s decision to pass the torch.

Reps. Don Davis (D-N.C.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) — all frontliners — have not thrown their support behind Harris, according to a tracker kept by The New York Times, omissions that are raising some eyebrows.

Peltola told The Hill on Monday that she does not endorse in races — “I as a rule do believe in endorsements” — and refused to say if she thinks Harris is a strong person to be on the Democratic ticket, pointing to the diverse nature of Alaska.

“Alaska is 63 percent independent, non-partisan, undeclared. So I am not a super active person within the Democratic Party,” she said.

Pressed on if she supports Harris, Peltola responded “as a human being I do support her, I do not make any endorsements though politically,” before hurrying away from reporters.

Harder, meanwhile, refused to answer questions about his feelings regarding Harris, telling The Hill it was “close to naptime” for his children, whom he was walking with, and deferring to his office.

The focus on down-ballot races comes as both parties are in striking distance of holding the majority of the House next year. Republicans currently hold a razor-thin margin — they can only afford to lose three votes on any party-line vote — giving either party an opportunity to win the chamber in November.

Decision Desk HQ currently gives Republicans a 61 percent chance of winning back the majority this cycle.

Some Democrats, nonetheless, are viewing Harris’s newfound role as presidential nominee as a late-stage development that is pumping some excitement into the race, with hopes that it is enough to help propel Democratic wins come November.

“She’s creating a level of excitement, enthusiasm and energy, the likes of which we have not seen,” Horsford said, “and we have to continue to support her as we win this November.”