Katie Hill launches effort to protect Democratic majority in House

Former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) launched a new effort on Tuesday to protect the Democratic majority in the House, backing 16 Democratic women running for reelection in next year’s midterms.

Hill, in a video announcing the initiative, said that because of redistricting and Republican gerrymandering, Democrats are “at serious risk of losing the House in the midterms and losing everything that we’ve worked so hard for over the last few years.”

“When I was elected in 2018, we took the majority by electing an incredible class of women. But now many of their seats are in jeopardy,” she added.

Excited to announce the @hertime2020 effort to Protect the House.

If even one of our 16 frontline endorsed candidates loses their tough re-election, we lose the House. Watch our video and join us: https://t.co/89EO15Ngcl.

Together, we can continue to make progress. pic.twitter.com/5NPeAdpv4D

— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) September 21, 2021

Hill said Her Time — an organization she launched in February 2020 to elect women and young people — is backing 16 female Democratic lawmakers who are facing “some of the toughest races in the country.”

They are Democratic Reps. Abigail Spanberger (Va.), Angie Craig (Minn.), Carolyn Bourdeaux (Ga.), Cindy Axne (Iowa), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), Haley Stevens (Mich.), Jahana Hayes (Conn.), Katie Porter (Calif.), Kim Schrier (Wash.), Lauren Underwood (Ill.), Lizzie Fletcher (Texas), Lucy McBath (Ga.), Mikie Sherrill (N.J.), Sharice Davids (Kan.), Susan Wild (Pa.) and Susie Lee (Nevada).

Hill said that, “terrifyingly,” if even one of those 16 lawmakers loses a race, Democrats are at risk of losing control of the House.

“I plan to spend the next year fighting to protect our Democratic majority and ensure that these amazing women leaders are able to continue to serve us in Congress,” she added.

She said HER Time is going to monitor the races and redistricting battles to “direct resources in real time to those who need it most, where your investment will make the biggest impact.”

Hill resigned from office in 2019 amid allegations that she had inappropriate sexual relationships with congressional and campaign staffers.

In June, she told “Axios on HBO” during an interview that “it would take a lot” to convince her to run for office in 2022.

“There’s got to be a very compelling reason for me to want to do it. And we’ll just have to see if that’s, that comes to be,” she added.

The 2022 stakes are also high in the Senate. Both parties are looking to gain seats in the upper chamber, which is split 50-50.