https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republican-revenge-record-gop-field-forms-on-2020-mission-to-take-down-socialistsRepublican revenge: Record GOP field forms, on 2020 mission to take down ‘socialists’
Marisa SchultzBy Marisa Schultz | Fox News
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EXCLUSIVE: Republicans are on the rebound.
A record number of candidates have filed to run for office in the House and Senate, breaking last cycle’s history-making numbers from the same point in time. But unlike the 2018 midterms when the surge was driven by Democrats, the congressional boom this time is on the Republican side, according to the latest federal candidate and financial activity report obtained exclusively by Fox News.
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In 2019 alone, 781 Republicans filed federal paperwork to run for the House, the most ever recorded in an odd year at the Federal Election Commission. That’s up from 593 GOP candidates in 2017, when Democrats had an astounding 937 candidates at the same point.
Republican candidates across the country interviewed by Fox News said they feel momentum is on their side this time. Energized by President Trump and his impeachment acquittal, congressional hopefuls are making the case that Trump needs a fighter like them in the House or else the country will succumb to “socialist” Democratic plans.
'I'm tired of seeing my president attacked every day. ... it’s time to get off the bench.'
— Marjorie Greene, GOP businesswoman and first-time congressional candidate
Like many GOP candidates vying for office this year, Greene takes aim directly at progressive darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her freshman squad and says Congress needs strong conservative women to stand up to “tyrannical socialist Democrats.”
“These are radical women that will not bend. They do not want to work across the aisle. They only want their policies of the Green New Deal, 'Medicare-for-all' and socialism for America,” Greene told Fox News.
“Oftentimes, it takes a woman to put another woman in her place," said Greene, whose family owns a commercial construction company. Ocasio-Cortez herself also is facing a slew of challengers on both sides of the aisle this election cycle.
Marjorie Greene, 45, from Rome, Ga., is among a record-breaking number of GOP candidates seeking House seats this year.
Last cycle, Democrats set new records for the number of candidates who filed to run for office. Their enthusiasm around the Trump resistance movement paid off with tremendous turnout and Democrats re-taking the House and ultimately impeaching Trump.
While early numbers show that Democrats still have high levels of candidates –- and a fundraising advantage – the Republicans have rebounded in a big way.
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The total number of House and Senate candidates reached an off-year record at 1,761, according to the FEC report obtained by Fox News, shattering the 2017 record of 1,739 candidates that was fueled by a wave of Democrats, especially women. This time, based on the latest data, more Republicans are running than Democrats -- with 874 total candidates compared with Democrats' 842.
The chart above shows the record number of candidates for House and Senate who filed in 2019, the most ever for an odd year. The growth is fueled by a boom of GOP candidates. (Source: Federal Election Commission reports on candidates who filed campaign finance reports for each calendar year - Jan. 1 – Dec. 31.)
Like last cycle, the huge interest in federal seats has less to do with Congress and more to do with the occupant in the White House. Democrats are fired up to defeat Trump and win back the Senate that acquitted the president and Republicans are on a mission to re-elect Trump and stamp out detractors -- and take back the Speaker Nancy Pelosi-controlled House in the process.
“It's all about enthusiasm driven by the president, both negative and positive,” said Sarah Bryner, research director at the Center for Responsive Politics. ��
