“It’s a tricky situation,” a House Democratic aide said Monday, requesting anonymity to speak candidly about a sensitive topic. “You cannot overestimate how much people are rooting for Joe Biden to succeed. The Democratic base is still traumatized by 2016. They finally beat [former President Donald] Trump — going after Biden, or the Biden agenda, is not viewed favorably.”

Republicans are eyeing four House Democrats as vulnerable because of the unfolding of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the chaotic evacuation of American citizens and allies under Biden’s leadership. They include Reps. Elaine Luria of Virginia, Mike Levin of California, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, and Malinowski. Others who might get swept up in GOP targeting include Kim and Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia.

Kim is a veteran of the State Department who spent time in Afghanistan; Slotkin worked at the Defense Department under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama; Spanberger worked in the clandestine service of the CIA. In 2020, Trump edged out Biden in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, which Kim captured from an incumbent Republican in 2018. Slotkin, another 2018 winner, also holds a district narrowly won by Trump last year.

Spanberger’s seat voted for Biden but by a margin of less than 1 percentage point.