A rough profile of their ideal candidate has started to emerge: veterans, preferably with small business experience too. They’d like as many of them to be women or people who’ve never run for office before — and having young children helps.

With the 2018 Senate map tilted heavily in Republicans’ favor, House races may prove the first real test for how much 2016 was a realignment election, and how much Democrats are able to turn the energy in the streets against President Donald Trump into actually winning races.

“We are going to be on offense, we are going to take this fight to the American people,” said DCCC Chair Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) last week at an event taking a victory lap over the defeat of Obamacare repeal. It was held to tout a poll showing how badly the bill played in 54 swing districts.

While winning the majority would require a tidal wave in 2018, Democratic recruiters are giddy over the surge in energy and interest among potential candidates, and they are starting the process earlier than ever.