An aggressive Republican approach to contesting Democrat-held and open seats in the US House of Representatives is moving ahead, with recruited candidates working to establish themselves as “Young Guns.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee set up the three-step program, with the achievement of Young Gun status the goal, during the 2008 cycle, and has expanded it this year. Preliminary steps include “On the Radar” and “Contender.”
“These candidates are putting the pieces of a winning campaign in place by meeting the rigorous goals laid out by the Young Guns program and aggressively paving their way toward victory on Election Day,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “The progress of these candidates is not only a testament to the Young Guns program, it is a sign of the hostile political environment that Democrats have created for themselves. As these challengers continue to meet the benchmarks we have set for them, they are ready to hold Democrats accountable for the unpopular big-government agenda they continue to push at the expense of economic recovery.”
There are no Young Guns yet, but several have moved into the program On the Radar, and many more have been elevated to Contender. Here are the lists:
Contender:
* Randy Altschuler (NY-01)
* Jon Barela (NM-01)
* Rob Cornilles (OR-01)
* Charles Djou (HI-01)
* Robert Dold (IL-10)
* Sean Duffy (WI-07)
* Keith Fimian (VA-11)
* Ryan Frazier (CO-07)
* Vicky Hartzler (MO-04)
* Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
* Adam Kinzinger (IL-11)
* Ed Martin (MO-03)
* Scott Rigell (VA-02)
* Bill Stouffer (MO-04)
* Tim Walberg (MI-07)
On the Radar:
* Jack Bailey (TN-04)
* Scott Bruun (OR-05)
* Larry Bucshon (IN-08)
* Francisco Canseco (TX-23)
* Blake Curd (SD-AL)
* Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
* Jim Gibbons (IA-03)
* Paul Gosar (AZ-01)
* Joe Heck (NV-03)
* Mike Keown (GA-02)
* David McKinley (WV-01)
* Brian Rooney (MI-07)
* Scott Tipton (CO-03)
* Jackie Walorski (IN-02)
RBR-TVBR observation: One way or another, this program should benefit broadcasters. Among other things, the program encourages candidates to make sure their campaign is more than adequately funded, and that funding will likely translate into a vigorous air war in Young Gun districts.
And as the program clearly states, these candidates are on the national organization’s radar, and will no doubt be eligible for a helping NRCC hand come Fall.
