DCCC Backs Carbajal

In another boost for Salud Carbajal’s candidacy for Congress, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced Thursday Carbajal is among those in its Red to Blue Program.

Part of the DCCC’s effort to elect Dems to the House of Representatives, the program identifies seats to pick up in the 2016 election. Carbajal is one of two candidates in the program who hails from a district currently represented by a Democrat. But the race to replace Congressmember Lois Capps is one of the DCCC’s top defensive races in the state. As a practical matter, this program could translate to cash for Carbajal.

A DCCC spokesperson said the metrics that go into identifying candidates for the program vary by race, including infrastructure, fundraising, staffing, and communication, among other things. The DCCC has been following potentials for some time.

The move is another loss for Democratic candidate and Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider. Last week, Carbajal secured 83 percent of the delegates in the state pre-endorsement process.

The district, spanning from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara to Ventura, has just three percent more registered Democrats than Republicans, but it is considered likely Democrat in a presidential year.

Republicans currently control the House. A National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesperson said they do not get involved in the primary election at all. They will back whichever Republican candidate advances to the general election.

On Thursday, the NRCC issued a statement that called the Red to Blue Program “laughable.” “…Their latest slate of future failed candidates will do no better. Maybe the DCCC should focus on keeping their blue districts blue. Walk before you run folks,” the NRCC communications director said in a statement.