National Democrats say they’ll set up shop in Texas suburbs soon

Opponents of President Donald Trump gather to protest his appearance at a rally in El Paso, Texas, on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Trump came to this bustling border city to rally support for his wall with Mexico while Beto O'Rourke, the former Democratic congressman from El Paso, led the city’s residents in his own boisterous show of opposition. (Jessica Lutz/The New York Times) less Opponents of President Donald Trump gather to protest his appearance at a rally in El Paso, Texas, on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Trump came to this bustling border city to rally support for his wall with Mexico ... more Photo: JESSICA LUTZ, STR / NYT Photo: JESSICA LUTZ, STR / NYT Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close National Democrats say they’ll set up shop in Texas suburbs soon 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

National Democrats intend to follow through with a plan to zero in on Texas in 2020 congressional elections by dispatching staff to suburbs of Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this morning spelled out the Texas component of a plan that will install 60 grassroots organizers in key districts around the country.

At least one and maybe more organizers will be assigned to each of the Texas suburban areas “in the near future,” according to a DCCC aide.

Speaking in Austin this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declared that Texas is “ground zero” in her party’s strategy. Earlier, the DCCC identified five Texas Republicans on the party's initial takedown list of 33 nationwide.

Related: Speaker Nancy Pelosi riles Texas conservatives with ‘ground zero’ comment

Texas targets include Reps. Will Hurd, of San Antonio, and Michael McCaul and Chip Roy of Austin.

Democrats were emboldened by unseating two Texas Republicans last year, John Culberson of Houston and Pete Sessions of Dallas. Those victories came about in part due to defections by suburban Republicans, particularly women, exit polls showed.

Democrats could be challenged in maintaining the fragile House majority they secured in the midterms. The two dozen first-term Democrats elected last year by five percentage points or less offer inviting targets for Republicans. And recent disarray in the Democratic caucus triggered by rebellious new members could aid the GOP's task.

The DCCC, House Democrats’ political arm, is chaired by Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos, who defied trends by twice winning by 20 percent or more in a district captured by President Donald Trump in 2016.

Bustos said the staff in Texas and elsewhere would be the DCCC’s first major investment in the 2020 cycle and referred to the new hires as “March Forward Field Managers.”