Rep. Tom Latham’s, R-Iowa retirement opens up a U.S. House seat, and Democrats are taking notice.

National Democrats named former Sen. Staci Appel, D-Ackworth to a list of top candidates in the midterm election, according to a press release.

Appel was name to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to the “Red to Blue” program along with 15 other candidates nationwide.

The program offers candidates “financial, communications, grass-roots, and strategic support.”

Fellow Democrat Jim Mowrer joined Appel in recognition through a separate program. Mowrer, who is challenging Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, was named to the party’s “Emerging Races” list of 12 competitive contests.

Democrats need a net gain of 17 seats to regain the majority in the U.S. House; they lost it in 2010.

— by Brent Griffiths