ICYMI: NEW POLITICS CANDIDATES DOMINATE PRIMARY SEASON, SECURING NOMINATIONS IN CRITICAL DISTRICTS TO FLIP THE HOUSE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Aly Ferguson
aly@newpolitics.org; 480-363-6465

19 New Politics-endorsed candidates are heading into the general election, representing more than one-third of the races that will decide the House majority 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 9, 2026) — With the primary season behind us and less than two months until Election Day, New Politics is heading into the general election backing 19 servant leaders running in some of the most critical races that will flip the House. New Politics-backed candidates now represent more than one-third of the candidates on the DCCC's Red to Blue list of the races it considers most competitive this November, proving the path to the House majority runs through the very type of candidates New Politics was founded to recruit and elect.

New Politics-endorsed servant leaders dominated the primary season, breaking through in crowded primary fields, unseating long-time incumbents, overcoming dark money spending, and proving that voters trust candidates who've shown they put service to country before self. Some highlights among New Politics’ primary wins include: 

• Cait Conley (NY-17), Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Zach Dembo (KY-06), Marni von Wilpert (CA-48), and Sam Forstag (MT-01) all won highly competitive primaries against serious, well-funded opponents. 
• Luke Bronin (CT-01) unseated 14-term incumbent Rep. John Larson, a result almost no one outside his campaign believed possible six months ago, in a race defined by voters’ desire for next-generation leadership. 
• New Politics candidates overcame millions in dark money spending against them, and even Republican meddling through obscure Super PACs in races like NY-17 and NJ-07. 
• Bale Dalton (FL-07), Leela Gray (FL-13), and Pia Dandiya (FL-22) all won their Florida primaries last month, keeping multiple seats across the state competitive after redistricting reshaped the map.

Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics, released the following statement:

“This cycle, primary voters showed us that they want leaders who have already proven, in uniform, in classrooms, and in their communities, that they will put service before self and actually deliver for the American people. They recognized the strength of character and depth of service these candidates bring to the table. Like voters, we know that the path to a Democratic majority runs through servant leaders, and it’s no coincidence that our races represent more than a third of the party's own top targets. New Politics is honored to stand behind each of these candidates and do everything in our power to help them win their races and flip the House in November.”

The 19 New Politics-endorsed House candidates advancing to the general election are:

• AZ-06: JoAnna Mendoza
• CA-48: Marni von Wilpert
• CO-04: Eileen Laubacher
• CO-05: Jessica Killin
• CT-01: Luke Bronin
• FL-07: Bale Dalton
• FL-13: Leela Gray
• FL-22: Pia Dandiya
• IA-03: Sarah Trone Garriott
• KY-06: Zach Dembo
• MI-01: Callie Barr
• MT-01: Sam Forstag
• NE-01: Chris Backemeyer
• NJ-07: Rebecca Bennett
• NY-17: Cait Conley
• PA-08: Paige Cognetti
• SC-01: Nancy Lacore
• VA-02: Elaine Luria
• WI-01: Mitchell Berman

About New Politics

New Politics is an organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders across the ideological and political spectrum who have committed their lives to serving their communities and our country, either through military service, national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, or by demonstrating strong service-based leadership in their community. New Politics’ support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised over $40 million to support over 475 candidates, successfully electing more than 200 of them to office, from Congress to School Board. Learn more at newpolitics.org.