Patriot Program
In order to expand our numbers in the House and reclaim the majority, it is imperative that every single incumbent House Republican seeking re-election is victorious. The NRCC "Patriot Program" is the formalized mechanism by which potentially targeted incumbents commit themselves to meet rigorous goals that will strengthen their campaigns to ensure victory. These "Patriots" who work tirelessly to build winning campaigns do so with the full support and participation of the NRCC and the entire House Leadership. Working with the NRCC, Patriots develop aggressive goals (and detailed plans to meet those goals) for fundraising, coalitions outreach, grassroots development, eCampaign operations, volunteer recruitment, and a number of additional aspects of their re-election campaigns.
Mary Bono Mack has always put the interests of her constituents first, and her record in Congress backs up her commitment to California's 45th Congressional District. Bono Mack sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee where she has served as a strong voice for small businesses and economic growth. She has established herself as an advocate of tax relief, limited government, and a strong national defense. Democrats have unsuccessfully targeted Bono Mack in the past, and this cycle she will face another liberal tax-hiker in Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet. While Bono Mack has stood as a strong voice against Washington's runaway agenda, Pougnet has pledged to support the Democrats' government takeover of healthcare and will be a rubber-stamp for the unpopular Obama-Pelosi agenda. California's primary election has already taken place. In 2008, Joseph Cao defeated corrupt incumbent Democrat William Jefferson in Louisiana's New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District. His victory made Cao the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress and the first Republican to hold this seat since 1891. Cao campaigned on the traditional, commonsense values of limited government and restoring ethics and honesty to elected leadership. The 2nd Congressional District was previously a Democratic stronghold with a rating of D+25. Upon Cao's upset victory, national Democrats made it known they would be heavily targeting the seat in 2010, to which Cao confidently responded, "I'm sure we'll prove them wrong again." Louisiana's primary election is on August 28. Charlie Dent represents Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, which lies exclusively in the expensive Philadelphia media market. Dent has been repeatedly lobbied by Democratic leaders to support their unpopular agenda, including an invitation to the White House to watch the Super Bowl as President Obama tried to persuade Dent to back the $787 stimulus package. Despite the sales pitch, Dent held firm as usual and stood up against the majority's reckless spending agenda. Dent is one of just a few Republicans who represent a district that both John Kerry and Barack Obama carried. With a Partisan Voting Index of D+2, Democrats have long targeted the 15th District. This year, he faces tax-raising Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, a who benefits from national attention as a member of the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program. Charles Djou won a special election for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District on May 22, 2010. He is also the first Chinese-American Republican elected to Congress. Djou has established a long record of public service; from the Army Reserves to the Honolulu City Council to the state legislature, he has shown a commitment to serving the people of Hawaii. Hawaii's 1st Congressional District leans Democratic with a rating of D+11, but Hawaiians have never unseated a federal officeholder in the state's 51-year history and the state's Republican governor is serving her second term. Hawaii's primary election is on September 18. In 2002, Jim Gerlach won his seat thanks to his reputation as a strong voice for taxpayers in the Pennsylvania legislature. He saved Pennsylvanians hundreds of millions of dollars as a leading advocate for welfare reform and has continued to voice the concerns of his constituents in Washington, D.C. While true fiscal responsibility is rare in Washington, Gerlach is a reliable leader for Pennsylvania taxpayers. Recently, Gerlach has been heavily targeted by national Democrats thanks to the composition of Pennsylvania's 6th district. President Obama carried the district in 2008 with 58 percent of the vote and John Kerry won with 51 percent in 2004. The Cook Report's Partisan Voting Index rates the district at D+4, but Gerlach has proven himself a savvy and tenacious campaigner who is capable of outperforming the district's trends. This competitive and expensive district is a necessary hold in order to reclaim a majority in the House of Representatives. Pennsylvania's primary election has already taken place. Dan Lungren represents California's 3rd Congressional District, which is comprised of Elk Grove and a portion of the Sacramento suburbs. Lungren is a strong advocate for limited government and lower taxes. As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, he has a record of promoting measures that ensure our national security and protect us from terrorist attacks. George W. Bush carried the district with 58 percent in 2004, but Barack Obama and John McCain split with 49 percent in 2008. Lungren himself had a tight race in 2008 and now faces a well-funded challenger in Ami Bera, who has already pledged his support for the Democrats' government takeover of healthcare. Lee Terry represents Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District. Sitting on the House Energy and Commerce Committee has given Terry a platform to be a strong voice for energy independence and small businesses. Terry faced a strong challenge last election cycle with the Obama campaign playing heavily in Omaha, and in 2010 he will face State Senator Tom White. White has gained national attention from the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program and has pledged to support the Obama-Pelosi agenda if elected. President Obama won this R+6 district with 50 percent in 2008. Pat Tiberi has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the hardest-working members of congress. Raised in Columbus, Tiberi is the son of Italian immigrants and a lifelong resident of his district. Tiberi is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and has established a conservative voting record on economic issues. Tiberi has fought off Democratic challengers since taking over his seat in Ohio's 12th Congressional District in the 2000 election cycle. He now faces Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks, a liberal Democrat who does not reside in the 12th District. Brooks was recently added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" program to solicit donations from Democrats across the country. The 12th District gave George W. Bush 51 percent of the vote in 2004, but flipped to give President Obama 54 percent in 2008. Cook rates it as a true swing district with a PVI of D+1. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2004, Reichert served for 32 years in the King County Sheriff's office and was elected sheriff in 1997. During his time as sheriff, he was instrumental in capturing the infamous Green River Killer, who murdered nearly 50 women in the Seattle area. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Reichert is a staunch advocate for lower taxes on behalf of his constituents. Washington's 8th Congressional District has a Partisan Voter Index rating of D+3. John Kerry and Barack Obama both carried the district with 51 percent and 57 percent of the vote, respectively. This year, Reichert will face wealthy Democrat challenger Suzan DelBene, a liberal billionaire attempting to buy this expensive Seattle-area seat.
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