The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee gave a helpful boost to PA-16 nominee Christina Hartman.

The DCCC named Hartman to their “emerging race” list, the first step on the road to “red to blue” status.

“With the retirement of the Republican incumbent Joe Pitts, voters in PA-16 will have fresh opportunity to determine the direction of this district,” the DCCC wrote in a memo announcing their  new slate of promising challengers. “While Christina Hartman is a dynamic candidate who values align with the suburban voters of the district, her opponent Lloyd Smucker has fully embraced Donald Trump’s divisive campaign.”

“President Obama won this district in 2008, and since then the district has become increasingly diverse,” they continued. “Seventeen percent of the population is non-white. Ten percent of the voters are of Hispanic descent and that number is growing larger every year. As Smucker was spending $275k of his own money to make it out of a brutal primary, Hartman has continued to raise money and garner the support of Democratic leaders, unions, and other groups.”

Hartman is running against State Senator and GOP nominee Lloyd Smucker in the November 8th general election. They are competing to replace ten-term Congressman Joe Pitts, who announced his intention to retire last year.

The 16th Congressional District includes parts of Berks, Chester and Lancaster County.