In a campaign memo reviewed by CBS News, Democratic congressional campaign workers are encouraging their candidates to focus on a message around concepts of “freedom” to win a series of Competitive United States House of Representatives races across the country.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee memo urges a continued focus on ideas of liberty as a way to regain the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, which remains highly competitive in the final stretch leading up to Election Day.
“It is incumbent upon House Democrats to focus on exposing the GOP’s attacks on reproductive freedom, economic freedom, and the freedom to live free from violence or fear,” the memo said. “In public media, whether paid or earned, House Democrats and candidates are reaching out to and energizing voters with messages focused on fighting for our freedoms.”
The memo includes a range of topics in which such messaging has been – and can be – used. For example, the memo says that “Donald Trump and House Republicans are attacking Americans’ freedoms – restricting reproductive freedom, banning books from schools, and dictating who people can love or how they can or cannot have families. These far-right extremists are determined to restrict rights and take away Americans’ freedoms.”
Mary Altaffer / AP
The final months of the race for control of the House of Representatives have been marked by campaign ads, mailings and speeches focusing on a variety of controversial issues, including consumer prices, border security, gun control and public safety.
The Democratic campaign memo includes a broader argument that the concept of “liberties” can be used to encompass several pressing issues that are important to voters, including women’s reproductive rights, the controversial Project 2025 to overhaul the executive branch, continued criticism of Trump’s defense of the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters and his baseless claims of 2020 election fraud.
“Across the battleground, DCCC candidates and frontliners are tackling the issue and working diligently to ensure voters know that electing Democrats to the House means codifying the protections of Roe, fighting for and investing in families’ economic freedom, and opposing Donald Trump and House Republicans’ plans to attack their freedoms,” the memo said. “This strong, contrasting message is critical to helping Democrats win back the House majority to defend our rights, our freedoms, our democracy, and our future.”
Speaking to CBS News between campaign stops in Nebraska, Democratic congressional candidate Tony Vargas touched on some of his party’s messages on freedom issues.
“This is a Republican Party that wants to take away from you — and tell you — what you can learn,” Vargas said. “They want to tell you what you can and can’t do with your body. They’re interfering in women’s health decisions.”
After meeting with Democratic Party volunteers in Dutchess County, New York, last month, Rep. Pat Ryan also emphasized a message that invoked the word freedom. Ryan, a Democrat facing a fierce re-election fight, told CBS News: “We’ve seen the far right and Donald Trump step up their efforts to roll back rights.”
A spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee responded to Democrats’ outreach efforts, telling CBS News that “the Republican platform is about giving Americans freedom from Kamala Harris’ inflation, border and public safety crises. We will win in November because voters refuse to live in fear of what Democrats will do to their economic and community security.”
Scott MacFarlane
