Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee


The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. The DCCC recruits candidates, raises funds, and organizes races in districts that are expected to yield politically notable or close elections. The structure of the committee consists, essentially, of the Chairperson, their staff, and other Democratic members of Congress that serve in roles supporting the functions of the committee.
The Chairperson of the DCCC is the fifth-ranking position among House Democrats, after the Majority Leader, the Majority Whip, the House Assistant Democratic Leader, and the Democratic Caucus Chairperson. The current chair is Cheri Bustos of Illinois, who assumed the position in 2019.

History

The DCCC originated in 1866 as the Democratic National Congressional Committee.
Due to the reform of campaign finance legislation that took effect in the 2004 election cycle, the DCCC splits into two organizations a few months before each Election Day:
  1. One organization can continue to stay in contact with the individual congressional campaigns, offering advice and suggestions to candidates and their staffs in each race.
  2. The other organization, which makes independent expenditures in congressional districts on behalf of the campaigns, is not allowed to coordinate activities with the campaigns.
In recent elections, the DCCC has played an expansive role in supporting Democratic candidates with independently produced television ads and mail pieces.
Rahm Emanuel assumed the position of DCCC committee chair after the death of the previous chair, Bob Matsui, at the end of the 2004 election cycle. Emanuel led the Democratic Party's successful effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives in the 2006 elections. After Emanuel's election as chair of the Democratic Caucus, Chris Van Hollen became committee chair for the 110th Congress and the 2008 elections. He continued through the 2010 elections. For the 2014 election cycle, Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed congressman Ben Ray Luján to serve as the committee's chair.

Alleged Russian hacking

In July 2016, the DCCC said it was hacked. Subsequently, a person described as a hacker and known as "Guccifer 2.0" reportedly released documents and information that were obtained from the cyberattack on the DCCC.

Electoral history

2019–2020 Frontline Program

2019–2020 Red to Blue

List of chairs

NameStateTerm of service
Wisconsin1868
Kentucky1878
Pennsylvania1880
California1882
Maryland1884
West Virginia1886
Alabama1888
New York1890
Wisconsin1892
West Virginia1894–1896
California1898
Tennessee1900
Georgia1902–1908
Missouri1909–1913
Michigan1913–1917
Oklahoma1917–1921
Kentucky1921–1924
Arkansas1925–1928
Tennessee1928–1935
Virginia1935–1947
Ohio1947–1969
Ohio1969–1971
Massachusetts1971–1973
Ohio1973–1976
California1976–1981
California1981–1987
Arkansas1987–1991
California1991–1995
Texas1995–1999
Rhode Island1999–2001
New York2001–2003
California2003–2005
Illinois2005–2007
Maryland2007–2011
New York2011–2014
New Mexico2014–2019
Illinois2019–present