How the White House plans to target 18 House Republicans from districts Biden won

In parts of the West Wing and Capitol Hill, they’re known as “The 18” – the 18 House Republicans elected in districts where voters supported President Joe Biden over Donald Trump. His aides are putting together plans to squeeze and shame them in the hopes of peeling off a few key votes over the next two years.

To the president and House Democratic leaders, they are the path back to the majority in 2024, and maybe even to some actual governing in between. Democrats are already making plans to pressure these Republicans to break with their party – and let their Biden-supporting voters back home know about it if and when they don’t.

The 18 themselves are not so convinced.

“Aren’t they going to work to get us to lose next November no matter what?” scoffed a skeptical New York Rep. Mike Lawler, the freshman who beat a five-term incumbent in one of the country’s most Biden-leaning district that is currently represented by a Republican. “Bipartisanship and compromise does not mean just me and a bunch of Republicans in Biden districts just acquiescing to the White House. They need to understand they need to come to the table as much as we do.”