The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has moved two California congressional races to their "Races to Watch" list, the first tier in the Red to Blue program, which supports competitive Democratic challengers in Republican districts across the nation. The new additions include Julie Bornstein (D-Palm Desert), who is looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs) in the 45th Congressional District, and Russ Warner (D-Rancho Cucamonga), challenger to U.S. Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) in the 26th Congressional District.
 
Bornstein spokesman Walter Ludwig says the move shows "that they actually think this race is now competitive."
 
Ludwig said the acknowledgement from the DCCC will help convince skeptical donors in the Riverside County district to step up to the plate. "We've been speaking to a lot of institutional donors who see our analysis of the race as competitive, but were waiting for the DCCC" to confirm it, he said.
 
Ludwig said that improved fundraising for Bornstein’s campaign is a prerequisite for greater support, both financial and otherwise, from the national party. "If we raise the resources, they will also come in and play," he said. Bornstein had raised $216,000 as of June 30, compared with over $1.3 million by Bono Mack.
 
Over in the 26th district, which takes in parts of the San Gabriel Valley and suburbs east of Los Angeles, the Warner campaign is welcoming any signs of recognition from party officials in their uphill battle against Dreier, the 13-term incumbent who has raised more than $1 million. "The DCCC understands that Dreier is vulnerable," said Warner spokeswoman Kristin Point.
 
Warner, founder and CEO of the magazine distribution company Warner International Periodic Services, has raised more than $800,000 thus far, though that includes more than $190,000 from the candidate's own pockets.
 
The campaigns of Dreier and Bono Mack could not be reached for comment.