Democratic officials are excited about Chaz Molder, a local mayor, who pitched himself in an interview as a pragmatist with deep community ties.

“I go to the same church and sit in the same pew I did as a kid,” Mr. Molder said.

Mr. Molder raised $1.2 million in his first four months and entered 2026 with nearly $1 million. Mr. Ogles has been one of the Republican Party’s worst fund-raisers and began the year with more debt than cash.

The very nature of recruiting in such red areas is that many of these candidates are likely to lose. But tilting the playing field could still help Democrats secure a majority — or expand it — by diverting or diluting Republican resources.

Read the full article