House Democrats’ main super PAC is making a final push to avoid a Democratic lockout in a key California House race, purchasing a $650,000 ad buy in the 48th District.
Democrats are nervous they’ll be shut out of a number of races in Orange County. These seats were carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016 and present some of the best pickup opportunities for the party across the country.
To try and prevent that scenario, House Majority PAC is jumping in with an ad buy in the district, which stretches from Huntington Beach down through Laguna Beach.
The television ad will start airing next week and run until election day, June 5, according to a person familiar with the buy. It will target one Republican, and it’s not incumbent GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.
Rohrabacher is facing nearly a dozen challengers, including a handful from the Right. On the Left, Harley Rouda and Hans Keirstead are Democrats’ best options for advancing to the general, but there’s a strong chance they could get iced out completely.
In California’s “jungle” primary system, all candidates compete in an open primary and the top two vote-getters proceed to the general.
House Majority PAC’s likely target is Republican candidate Scott Baugh, who is leading the field of GOP challengers. Baugh could secure the second spot on the ballot behind the 15-term Rohbacher, who is expected to advance.
House Majority PAC purchased a smaller ad buy with fellow super PAC Priorities USA Action against Baugh and two other Republicans in separate Orange County races earlier this month.
