B (8:29)

So we have a big map. First, we've got to make sure that we keep the folks we have. We have 24 folks we call our frontliners. These are the folks who are in tough reelections. We got to make sure we reelect them. And then we have 39 seats where we're on offense across the country. To put it in perspective, we have Republicans have a three seat majority, three seats. So we need to net three seats to take back the gavels. And we have an offensive map of 39 districts across the country. In fact, we just added to that map at the end of the year because we see more opportunities. These are districts from Michigan and Pennsylvania to Iowa and Arizona and Kentucky and Tennessee. We have opportunities all across the country. And we have great candidates who want to run, people who are stepping up because they see what's happening across the country and they want to do their part to make a difference. And we know when we have great candidates running talking about the issues that matter, that we win. And maybe the last thing I'll remind folks of is even in 2024, we actually picked up seats in the House. Democrats picked up seats. We had 14 Democrats who won in districts that Donald Trump also won in. So we know we have great candidates talking about the issues that matter. We can win in these purple districts across the country and absolutely American people on our side. And we have a great opportunity to take back the gavels, take back the majority and put a check on this administration and this president.

A (10:08)

So I want to ask you more about those numbers. So three seats for Democrats to flip the House, what does that look like in terms of special elections this year? Could that modify that number or is it just three seats? Is that what we're looking at?

B (10:21)

Well, right now there's one, you know, we have one vacancy in New Jersey that we know. You know, primaries have been going on there too to fill that seat that's a blue district. And so we're looking forward to having another Democratic member join us. That puts us back up to 215. And then it's about what happens in November. There may be other special elections that come along the way, but really some of the special elections have been in districts that aren't quite as purple. But we're going to fight everywhere we can in every district we can. And you know, we also know sometimes folks decide to retire that we don't expect. And so there may be other opportunities along the way. But we know that we have many, many opportunities in November.

A (11:14)

I got to ask you because I think you mentioned like 39 toss up and away seats. You're targeting a lot of these seats across the country who are some candidates or some races that you're watching that maybe the average American doesn't really know about and probably should know about.

B (11:28)

So 39. And there are districts all over. We have districts in, for example, in Pennsylvania, Janelle Stelson running against Scott Perry, a great candidate she actually ran last cycle, overperformed, came really close. She's going to win this time. That's one example. Or Paige Cognetti, mayor of Scranton, who's also running to flip a seat in Pennsylvania, Jonathan Nez, the former president of the Navajo Nation, running in Arizona, incredibly strong candidate running against a very extreme Republican, which is saying a lot these days. Eli Crane, Joe Mendoza also running in Arizona, in Southern Arizona against Juan Siskamani. Another place where we have a great opportunity to pick up, we have mayor in Tennessee, Chasmulder running against Andy Ogles. So I remind folks that sometimes it's in places of the country that people aren't always thinking about that we might have opportunities, but these are opportunities that we have that are all across the country. And great candidates, folks who have connections to their community, who are speaking to everyone in their community. By definition these are districts, they're purple districts. They're districts where people have many different political points of view. But when you have someone who authentically is talking about what they can do to make a difference for their community, that kind of cuts across a lot of boundaries and creates opportunities. And so great candidates and maybe there's also just a huge yearning across the country that we've seen for folks to have. People are going to stand up for their communities in Congress who aren't just going to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump. And so another place where we have opportunity. And remember, in special elections that we have seen since November of 2024, we have seen Democratic over performers by about 13%. And in congressional special elections, Democrats are running 17 points ahead. So just across the country, people are seeing what's happening and are expressing their desires, their needs with their vote. And that's absolutely going to happen in November as well.

A (13:48)

Well, I got to ask you. So special elections to me are a bit of a fickle thing in terms of turnout, in terms of final results. And I think we've also, like you said, we've, we've seen the headlines, Democrats over performing everywhere. Lots of Americans really upset with what's happening in Washington today in the administration. Are you at all concerned about voter apathy that essentially so many Democrats will just say, you know, we have this in the bag, that they're not going to turn out in November.

B (14:12)

We absolutely should realize that we have to do everything we can if we're going to win. I am confident and I am paranoid. I think that the election is not being held today. The election is nine months away. And we need everyone to realize that we have to do everything we can collectively. We've got to be out there helping support great candidates. People have to be making sure that they are talking to their friends and neighbors about how critical their vote is. There is so much at stake. And the number one thing we can do to put a check on this administration is to make sure we take back the majority in the House of Representatives. We have the best map. We have opportunities all across the country. We only need three seats. So that is the number one thing we can do. There are other things we all want to do as well on top of that. But the number one thing we can do is take back the gavels. When we have Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, when we have the chairs of committees, that means we can have hearings and oversight. We control what bills go on the floor and can make sure that we're getting votes on critical bills. For all of those reasons, it is critically important that we take back the majority. We can, but we are going to take nothing for granted. None of us should. We should all work incredibly hard to get there because there is so much at stake.

A (15:36)

Now, before I let you go, I do want to ask you, because we talk about elections, we talk about November and we've seen over the past several days, especially the president seeking to undermine the election, Right. You have Steve Bannon suggesting They'll deploy ICE agents to the polls. You have Donald Trump saying he wants to federalize and nationalize these elections. You're in charge of the Democratic plan for these elections. Are you at all worried that the president in this White House will take action to undermine what happens in November?

B (16:02)

So let's be clear. They started on this path a long time ago. You have seen them attack mail in voting, trying to make it harder and harder for folks to have access to the ballot. And we have been challenging in court and we have been winning in court and are going to continue to challenge legally. Clearly, they know they can't win because with the hearts and minds of the American people, that's why they are trying to redistrict across the country. President Trump called up Republicans in Texas and literally said, give me five seats. The people of Texas hate this. The people, people across the country hate it. And we are fighting and redistricting battles across the country. And you saw what happened in California. The people of California who actually got to say stood up. So we're going to fight there. And absolutely, we're going to continue to fight to make sure that our local, the folks across the country who are managing elections, these local election administrators all across the country stand up to make sure that they can do their jobs. And I think it's important for folks to remember that we all have a role to play there. Public sentiment has a huge impact on what happens across the country. Even Republicans have been starting to speak out about some of the comments the president has made about trying to control elections. So the American, the voice of the American people is critically important, makes a difference. That's how we see great changes. So I remind everyone, be engaged, be involved, stand up and absolutely make sure you vote.

A (17:39)

Congresswoman, thanks so much for joining me.

B (17:41)

Thank you.

A (17:42)

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C (17:56)

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