RICHMOND, Va. _ Eight days after a Republican super PAC publicized confidential records of a CIA officer-turned-congressional candidate, national security experts were still seething.
So Seth Moulton took to his private Slack channel to offer some guidance to the House candidates he has endorsed, many of them military veterans who were horrified that Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger had been exposed.
"We usually think about how we're going to get hit in terms of whatever weaknesses we may have in our resumes, mistakes we've made in the past, etc.," the congressman wrote to his endorsees on the messaging platform, something he set up to dispense exactly this kind of advice. "But they go after our strengths. (Look at how Pelosi always attacks me _ on my motives for serving.)
"Please don't be afraid to reach out to me or to each other when you need to vent," Moulton continued. "Because this stuff isn't easy, and you're not alone."
Moulton _ a Massachusetts Marine veteran and adversary of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi _ has spent the past two years working to create a sense of community for the candidates he's supporting. That list includes military and national security veteran contenders running in pivotal House races, from Spanberger in Virginia to Amy McGrath in Kentucky to Dan McCready in North Carolina.
In Congress, Moulton is a polarizing member, and nationally, the second-term congressman admits to being largely unknown _ though in an interview he didn't entirely close the door on a future presidential bid. But to many of these campaigns, he is a significant figure, acting as part coach, part therapist, major fundraiser and full-time convener.
"He's created a network of people who are able to lean on each other, share experiences, discuss what the campaigns are like," said Spanberger, who is running in a Richmond-area district (while Republicans promoted elements of her security clearance file, the U.S. Postal Service apologized for releasing it improperly).
Connections are forged at fundraisers and late-night drinks, through Slack and texting threads and staff-to-staff strategy sessions. There was a congressional delegation-style trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, and a debate prep session in Washington led by top Obama-world alumni.
As the Democratic Party braces for a clash between ascendant progressives and moderate holdouts, newcomers and old-guard leadership, Moulton and his network of younger veterans _ with their national security expertise, anti-establishment streaks and often, ties to more conservative districts _ could have substantial influence in a potential Democratic majority, if enough of them survive tough races on Nov. 6.
"If we're fortunate enough to get elected, I think we're going to have a network of people that many freshmen in Congress don't have," said McGrath, who is running in a tight race in the Lexington, Ky. area. "Hopefully that will be a powerful network, to make sure we have a strong voice in doing what we think is best for the country."
