Already, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC<\/a>) is targeting four GOP-held seats in Florida, twice as many as House Democrats targeted in 2024. A list of DCCC \u201cDistricts in Play\u201d includes those represented by U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee of Thonotosassa, Anna Paulina Luna of St. Petersburg, Cory Mills of New Smyrna Beach, and Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar of Coral Gables.<\/p>\n But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently told<\/a> Punchbowl News\u2019 Jake Sherman that the Special Election upsets had him thinking Democrats should step up efforts against Republican U.S. Reps. Mario D\u00edaz-Balart of Hialeah, Carlos Gim\u00e9nez of Miami-Dade and Brian Mast of Stuart.<\/p>\n That could mean the DCCC, the political arm of House Democrats, could expand its map soon. But no such announcement has been made so far, and such decisions only come after close scrutiny around the districts.<\/p>\n Even if the DCCC never lists those GOP incumbents as targets, Jeffries is also closely aligned with the House Majority PAC, which announced in December 2024<\/a> that it may recruit against Gim\u00e9nez, Lee, Mills and Salazar.<\/p>\n D\u00edaz-Balart, the longest-serving member of Florida\u2019s congressional delegation, said he doesn\u2019t worry about being targeted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m used to being targeted \u2014 not the first time and won\u2019t be the last,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m ready for anything the Left throws my way. Last time they targeted me with big money and their dream candidate, I won by better than 60%-40% on a horrible year for the GOP.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s a reference to the 2018 cycle, when Democrat Mary Barzee Flores ran against the Hialeah Republican and generated significant attention<\/a> as one of several female Democratic candidates challenging GOP incumbents. The same cycle, Lauren Baer challenged Mast and lost<\/a> by 8 percentage points.<\/p>\n But Democrats did pick up two U.S. House seats in Florida that cycle, if only for a term. Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell<\/a> unseated incumbent U.S Rep. Carlos Curbelo, while Democrat Donna Shalala won an open seat previously held<\/a> by Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Both Democrats were defeated in 2020 by Gim\u00e9nez and Salazar, respectively.<\/p>\n Luna, Mast and Mills also got their jobs flipping open seats previously held by Democrats. That means each of those districts \u2014 or, rather, prior configurations of them \u2014 were held by Democrats within the last decade.<\/p>\n One national Democratic strategist said the Tuesday election results had sent enthusiasm in Washington to new heights, but that any actual expansion of the map would require careful consideration. But the strategist noted that by announcing targets early and getting infrastructure in place, Democrats can field competitive candidates in any corner of the state \u2014 or at least in Central and South Florida.<\/p>\n That\u2019s true, the strategist said, whether or not Florida Republicans follow through with a mid-decade redraw<\/a> of congressional lines. Indeed, Democrats believe a new map at this point would almost inevitably put more Republicans at risk instead of making trouble for Democrats.<\/p>\n That\u2019s likely part of why many Republicans in Florida\u2019s delegation have more vocally questioned plans for an aggressive redistricting effort.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t do it,\u201d U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, a Clermont Republican, told Punchbowl News.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could put incumbents at risk,\u201d U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican, told POLITICO.<\/p>\n Many Republicans have urged caution if lawmakers do move ahead with redistricting, something Trump pushed other states to do to maximize the number of safe Republican seats. Many presume that will mean making U.S. Reps. Jared Moskowitz, a Parkland Democrat, and Darren Soto, a Kissimmee Democrat, more vulnerable.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Influence_FGAT_Banner_728x90.jpg\")
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