Date: May 20, 2021
To: John
From: Tedra Cobb, BACKROADS PAC Founder
Re: Defending the House in 2022 

2022 Challenges

With the release of the Census figures last month, we now have a clearer picture of what it means for Democrats’ chances to stay in the House majority.

Democrats currently hold the thinnest majority in decades, with Republicans only needing to flip five seats to control the House. 

Republicans have the upper hand in the redistricting process due to their gains at the state level in recent election cycles. They now control 188 seats in the redistricting process, compared to just 72 for Democrats. Experts at the Cook Political Report and Real Clear Politics estimate that Republicans can gain four seats from redistricting alone. 

In addition to the redistricting disadvantage, history shows us that the party that controls the White House typically loses an average of 27 seats in midterm elections. In President Barack Obama’s first mid-term, Democrats lost 63 seats. 

The Path Forward

With redistricting, if everyone votes the exact same way as they did in 2020, Democrats could still lose the House majority. 

The only way to maintain control of the House is by expanding our base by appealing to rural voters. We believe that Democrats have a winning message that will help them win in rural districts. 

Under President Donald Trump and a Republican Senate, the pandemic killed 400,000 Americans and wreaked havoc on our economy. This March, Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden described as providing “shots in arms and money in pockets.” 69% of Americans across the political spectrum approve of the $1.9 trillion plan. 

With Joe Biden’s strong approval ratings and the success of the American Rescue Plan, it’s clear that Democrats are delivering results that improve people’s lives in rural communities. But Republicans have been so dominant in these districts, and the influence of right-wing media makes it hard to get the truth out to voters without significant resources.

To compete with Republicans, Democrats need to quickly build a robust infrastructure that will allow us to communicate with voters effectively. 

What BACKROADS PAC is Doing 

Here at BACKROADS PAC, our mission is simple:
 

• Identify, vet, and endorse rural Democrats
   
• Provide training and infrastructure support for endorsed candidates
   
• Provide financial support for endorsed candidates
   

We are currently working on a research project aimed at helping rural candidates communicate effectively to rural voters. This will allow us to figure out how to cut through the noise and demonstrate how Democratic policies can benefit rural communities.

This project and all of our efforts rely on grassroots support. If you would like to invest in our movement, please click this link: https://backroadspac.com/strategymemo