Daniel Marans, a HuffPost reporter who covers the Democratic Party, on Thursday discussed his recent story on House Democrats who are asking for help to fend off progressive primary challengers.
Marans reported moderate Democratic House members Jimmy Gomez
Jimmy GomezHuffPost reporter: DCCC will help Dems fend off progressive challengers to 'keep them happy' California Democrat renewing push to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene Marjorie Taylor Greene to introduce resolution to expel Maxine Waters MORE (Calif.) and Veronica Escobar
Veronica EscobarHuffPost reporter: DCCC will help Dems fend off progressive challengers to 'keep them happy' Democrat: Ex-Trump aide Miller should be jailed for human rights violations Democrats play defense on border crisis MORE (Texas) both requested help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in fending off more-liberal challengers from within their own party.
Gomez and Escobar were part of a party-sponsored video call with donors in which five "frontline" lawmakers, or those who are in districts at risk of being flipped to Republican candidates, were being highlighted.
The call came soon after the far-left advocacy group Justice Democrats announced they would be challenging House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn MaloneyHuffPost reporter: DCCC will help Dems fend off progressive challengers to 'keep them happy' The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Chauvin conviction puts renewed focus on police reform Liberal advocacy group stirs debate, discomfort with primary challenges MORE (D-N.Y.), 75, with progressive candidate Rana Abdelhamid, 27.
Marans said that Gomez's seat is highly unlikely to be flipped by a Republican. He notes, however, that the challenger Gomez seeks to fend off, David Kim, was only six points behind him in the last election.
In California, the top two candidates in a primary election to proceed to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
"[It's] very legitimate for people to point that out and say, the DCCC does not need to be spending its resources, anywhere near Jimmy Gomez," Marans said. "But I think from their perspective, they're thinking. 'These are the people who, again, keep the lights on in our building, and politically we need to keep them happy.'"
