Executive Summary
- The DCCC has added Michigan State Sen. Sean McCann to its "Red to Blue" mentorship program for the 2026 midterms.
- McCann is challenging eight-term Republican incumbent Rep. Bill Huizenga in Michigan’s 4th District.
- President Donald Trump won the district by 5.5% in 2024, though Huizenga won by a larger 12% margin.
- McCann faces a primary challenge from former Capitol Hill staffer Diop Harris before the general election.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced on Monday that Michigan State Senator Sean McCann has been inducted into its "Red to Blue" program, a designation reserved for top-tier candidates in competitive districts. The move signals national Democrats’ intent to target Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, a seat currently held by eight-term Republican Representative Bill Huizenga. The program provides candidates with organizational support, fundraising infrastructure, and strategic guidance for the 2026 midterm cycle.
McCann, who represents Kalamazoo in the state Senate, must first navigate a primary contest against Diop Harris, a former Capitol Hill staffer. According to DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, McCann is viewed as a "bipartisan problem solver" capable of contesting the seat. To qualify for the program, candidates are required to meet specific benchmarks regarding campaign infrastructure and fundraising. Since launching his campaign in July 2025, McCann has reported raising over $554,000 and has secured endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten.
The 4th District, which encompasses parts of Kalamazoo, Van Buren, and Allegan counties, remains a Republican stronghold, though Democrats argue the demographic landscape is shifting. President Donald Trump carried the district by 5.5 percentage points in the 2024 election. Notably, incumbent Representative Huizenga outperformed the top of the ticket, defeating his Democratic challenger by nearly 12 percentage points in 2024. The Cook Political Report currently rates the district as "likely" Republican, while Inside Elections shifted its rating to "lean" Republican last year.
Republicans have dismissed the challenge, expressing confidence in Huizenga’s standing with constituents. National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Zach Bannon stated that Huizenga would "crush any Democrat" advancing what he termed an "extreme agenda." Huizenga, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, opted to run for a ninth term after declining a bid for the U.S. Senate.
Strategic Assessment
The inclusion of Michigan’s 4th District in the DCCC’s "Red to Blue" program suggests a strategy of battlefield expansion for Democrats in the 2026 cycle. While the district voted for President Trump in 2024 and has historically favored Republicans by comfortable margins, the allocation of national resources indicates that party leadership identifies potential vulnerabilities in the incumbent’s coalition or sees value in forcing the GOP to defend traditionally safe seats. However, the 12-point margin of victory for Huizenga in the previous cycle presents a significant statistical hurdle, suggesting that flipping this seat would require a substantial shift in voter sentiment or turnout dynamics distinct from the 2024 general election environment.
