Democrats See Conservative Blue Dogs as Key to Winning House
- Blue Dog group working with party to recruit candidates
- Coalition boasts that it’s not afraid to buck leadership
The U.S. Capitol building stands in Washington on July 11, 2017.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Since Republicans took control of the U.S. House seven years ago, Democratic campaign officials have shown little interest in working with a small group of fiscal conservatives in their party to gain more seats.
But with Democrats clawing to reclaim the majority, that’s starting to change. The party’s House campaign arm is now building close ties with the previously ignored Blue Dog Coalition -- which boasts that it’s not afraid to buck Democratic leadership -- to prepare for next year’s elections, when all 435 seats in the chamber are up for grabs.