The still-growing field of Democratic candidates running for Senate seats in 2020 looks a lot like the Democratic candidates who ran for the House in 2018.
While the race is very early, prominent candidates in several races share some key characteristics. Several are military veterans or small-business owners, and the announcement videos each emphasize health care. Many veterans and national security professionals won competitive House seats for Democrats in 2018, and health care was a central issue in the 2018 midterms.
Cal Cunningham, a former state senator in North Carolina, launched his Senate candidacy on Monday, quickly winning the endorsement from several Democratic officials in the state, including former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan. His announcement video covers both his tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and the rising cost of health care. If he wins the Democratic primary, Mr. Cunningham would face Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) in a state President Trump won narrowly in 2016.
In Arizona, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has endorsed Mark Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Mr. Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut, lists health care first in a series of issues he would tackle if elected in his announcement video.
The DSCC has also officially endorsed Theresa Greenfield, who is running to challenge Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) in 2020. Her launch video highlights her experience running a small-business and promises to make health care more affordable. Ms. Greenfield ran for the House in 2018 before she dropped out because her campaign manager falsified signatures on candidate paperwork.
Ms. Greenfield is not the only 2018 House candidate to take a shot in the Senate. M.J. Hegar, an Air Force veteran who narrowly lost her 2018 House race, is running for Senate in Texas.
None of these candidates mention the president in their announcement videos.
The 2020 election may still be many months away, but Democratic branding in competitive races is so far strikingly similar to the approach to 2018.
Write to Andrew Duehren at andrew.duehren@wsj.com
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