Progressive Democrats Upset with DCCC's Endorsement of Marlene Galan-Woods

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has endorsed Marlene Galan-Woods in her primary bid to unseat Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ), but the Progressive Caucus and other candidates are unhappy with the endorsement.

As Axios describes, DCCC insiders backed Galan-Woods and California State Assembly member Jasmeet Bains, who is seeking to unseat Representative David Valadao (R-CA) in the Golden State's 22nd congressional district. However, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) spoke out in a rare objection to the endorsements, saying, "Voters, not the DCCC, should pick Democratic nominees."

"Our members have consistently advocated for DCCC neutrality in competitive House primaries, and the DCCC should have observed that policy in this race," the CPC added.

Similarly, Amish Shah, who is also running in the Democratic primary for Arizona's 1st congressional district, lambasted the decision on social media, writing, "Elites in Washington should not be meddling in this race. This election will be decided by Arizona voters, not by establishment insiders in back rooms."

Shah had previously defeated Galan-Woods in the 2024 Democratic primary, and his poll numbers for 2026 indicate he is the more popular of the two, as an independent February poll conducted among likely Democratic voters put him at a 3-to-1 favorability rating over Galan-Woods.

Galan-Woods, meanwhile, has a higher favorability rating in a Congressional Hispanic Caucus-backed poll, along with the endorsement of AFL-CIO.

Nevertheless, Republican National Committee spokesman Nick Poche says that party insiders working against the will of its voters is par for the course with Democrats. Poche is pulling up to the Democratic infighting with popcorn in hand.

"Democrats are doing what Democrats do best: not giving a damn about voters while spending all their time fighting about which DEI group deserves more money," Poche said in a statement. "While Democrats attack each other, Republicans are locked-in and united in winning in November."