Democratic congressional candidate Raul Ruiz is hitting the campaign trail this weekend with a little help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards, who is a co-chair of the DCCC Red-to-Blue program, will headline a fundraising luncheon at noon Saturday at the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, located in Cathedral City.
The event is billed as the first event of the general election campaign.
Ruiz, an emergency room physician from Palm Desert, is trying to unseat Rep. Mary Bono Mack, a Palm Springs Republican campaigning for her eighth term.
National Democrats consider the new 36th Congressional seat, which includes the entire Coachella Valley, a chance to pick up another seat in their effort to regain control of the House.
Ruiz was named to the Red-to-Blue program earlier this year. The fundraising tactic allows key candidates to tap national Democratic donors.