Susie Lee, a Democratic Representative from Nevada, is fighting for her political life to keep her seat in a highly competitive House race.

Lee, who prides her self on staying focused on local issues, and away from the top of the Democratic ticket, claims that since Vice President Kamala Harris was announced as the presumptive Democratic candidate, her region has experienced a 400% rise in volunteers, a crucial boost in her House campaign that would always come down to voter turnout.

Lee told CNN that “that type of enthusiasm and increased volunteerism is what will get us to the finish line.”

It is not true that Democrats, like Lee, who could decide whether or not her party gains control of the House of Representatives in the next election, will change their messaging and align themselves more closely with Harris.

The Nevada Democrat continued, “I will run the race as I have always done it, which is to focus on hyper-local concerns.”

A common theme was evident in conversations with more than a dozen Democratic candidates and lawmakers running for competitive races around the country. Harris’s new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has given Democrats a boost of energy through an increase in donations, volunteers and attendance at events. This hasn’t led to a change in strategy. Most in tight races want to keep their top-of-the ticket campaigns separate from those they’ve built around local issues.

Kirsten Engel, a candidate for the Arizona congressional seat, speaks at a Women’s March in Phoenix, Arizona on January 20, 2024. Caitlin O’Hara/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Kirsten Engel, a former Arizona legislator who lives southeast of Lee in Arizona and is attempting to flip a Republican Arizona district that is partially located on the US-Mexico Border has described the recent grassroots excitement she is experiencing as “undeniable” because it is inspired by Harris.

Engel said that she sees Harris as a strong advocate for abortion rights, but will continue to criticize both parties on border security and immigration reform.

Engel stated that “neither party has done Arizona or the border well.” “The Trump administration has separated families at border. “The Biden administration realized the crisis at border very late.”

They also criticized Republicans for blocking bipartisan legislation in Congress to address the border issue.

Candidates in western Pennsylvania have asked Harris more specific questions about her position on fracking – the main method of extracting energy from gas in battleground state – such as Pennsylvania, which is crucial for jobs in the Rustbelt.

Last month, a Harris campaign official stated that she no longer supported a ban on fracking. Democrats agree that Harris must make this case directly to the voters and build bridges quickly with unions and key constituencies that Joe Biden fostered over decades.

Rep. Chris Deluzio who supports Harris told CNN that he is glad to see Harris has changed her position on fracking.

“It’s good to hear her say she doesn’t intend to do that.” This is not what the administration has done. “I think it’s very important to continue President Biden’s work to help our energy and climate goals,” said the Pennsylvania Democrat to CNN.

He added, “I know it’s a top priority for many people in the building trades around here. They have certainly made their opinions very clear all the way up to the top.”

In an attempt to create a strategy for targeting Democrats in tight races, the Republican campaign has used some of her previous positions, such as fracking. It doesn’t mean that Republican lawmakers are staying on message. Some have even resorted to calling her “DEI hire.”

Some people are more blunt in their distancing themselves from Harris and the party.

Rudy Salas is a Democrat who wants to flip a Republican-held California district that Biden won in 2020. He told CNN that running with Harris was “not a make or break thing.” Salas is among a number Democrats who are planning to skip the Democratic National Convention.

He wants to capitalize on the energy Harris brought to the race, but he doesn’t want to divert his message from local issues.

Will Rollins, a Democrat from Salinas about three hours south, sings a different song.

Rollins, a former federal prosecution running to unseat GOP Rep. Ken Calvert from California, sees Harris’ experience as California’s Attorney General as a major boost for his campaign. Rollins said Harris’ theme on the campaign trail, that she is a prosecutor with experience in dealing with perpetrators and knows Trump’s style, is exactly what he wants to use against her opponent. He often begins his events by repeating some of Harris’ signature lines.

Rollins stated, “I wish that I had heard her line before filming all of our commercials.” I mean, I work it into my remarks at least within the same theme, because I think it really resonates for swing voters.

Rollins, who has been trying to recruit young voters for his campaign, said that the Harris campaign’s organic content has led to an overall increase in his social media platforms.

Rollins told Harris that Harris would help him in a unique way to encourage young people to vote.

Walz serves ‘meat-and-potatoes’ politics

By selecting Walz as a partner, the Harris campaign gave many Democrats who were running competitively in lower-level races a welcome partner.

Rep. Ann Kuster, of New Hampshire, the chair of the New Democrat Coalition (a large group moderate Democrats running for battleground districts), told CNN that she received a flood calls from legislators who wanted to run with Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.

Walz served in Congress for 12 years, representing a rural district with a conservative lean, which was dominated by Republicans both before and during his tenure.

Kuster said to CNN, “I think that he will be spectacular for us.” “He can campaign in those districts with us. You must be able communicate. You have to be able to communicate.