Democrats launch The Bench group backing rising star candidates

Democrats are launching The Bench – a new political group that brings together a series of rising star candidates aiming to remake the party.

The organization, which was officially launched earlier this month by a handful of campaign veterans, says its mission is to devote resources to building a bench full of candidates they tout as “the future of the Democratic Party.”

The new group’s launch comes as Democrats aim to win back majorities in the House and Senate in this year’s midterm elections, but as the party also suffers from historically low favorability and approval ratings.

The ruling party in Washington, D.C., which this year is clearly the GOP, normally faces strong political difficulties in midterm elections. And the latest national polls indicate that President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains much lower, fueled in part by Americans’ deep, lingering concerns about lingering inflation.

DEMOCRATS LOOKING AT A NARROW, UPGRADE PATH TO THE SENATE MAJORITY

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., looks on during a news conference of the top two congressional Democrats, at the U.S. Capitol, January 8, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

But Democrats have their own polling problems, with a series of surveys going back a year indicating the party’s standing is at historic lows.

The judiciary, in a statement, says the candidates they support “can help us repair our brand, they are best placed to win the general election and retain seats.”

The group plans to provide these candidates “with the tools, strategy and support needed to run serious, solutions-focused campaigns that challenge the status quo, connect with voters and produce real results for the people they serve.”

CALL TO DUTY: IN BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SEARCH FOR VETERANS

The group, which includes renowned Democratic activist and strategist Lis Smith and communications specialist Andrew Mamo, has worked for months to recruit and train three Senate candidates and a dozen House candidates.

Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic Senate candidate, is being endorsed by a new Democratic-aligned group called “The Bench.” (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

The Senate candidates are Michigan State Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow, Texas state legislator and Presbyterian seminarian James Talarico, and Iowa State Representative Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player.

In House races, the group is supporting Jamie Ager in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, Shannon Bird in Colorado’s 8th District, Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, Cait Conley in New York’s 17th District and Mike Cortese in Tennessee’s 5th District.

LIMITED UNDER TRUMP, THESE TWO FORMER MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE A NEW MISSION: RUN FOR CONGRESS AS DEMOCRATS

The list also includes Sam Forstag in Montana’s 1st District, Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa’s 3rd District, Matt Maasdam in Michigan’s 7th District, Darren McAuley in Florida’s 15th District, Denise Blaya Powell in Nebraska’s 2nd CD District and Bobby Pulidio in Texas’ 15th District.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic Senate candidate, is backed by a new Democratic-aligned group called “The Bench.” (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

And this week, the group endorsed Nancy Lacore in South Carolina’s 1st District. Lacore, a 35-year military veteran who served as a Navy helicopter pilot and later as head of the 60,000-strong Naval Reserve force, was discharged last August by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth..

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The group notes that the candidates it supports range from progressives to centrists.

“These candidates are united not by ideology, but by a desire to break from Democratic flaws, speak honestly to their communities, and compete seriously in areas that the party has too often sidelined,” the group said.

But Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Fox News Digital: “The Democratic Party is a broken brand, and they’re packing it with deeply radical candidates.” They are too awake for the working class, too weak to get anything done, and too lost to get out of the wilderness. »