A leading Republican super PAC has booked nearly $50 million in midterm advertising to defend threatened suburban battlegrounds as part of a broader strategy to defend the party’s imperiled House majority.
Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC affiliated with outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced the advertising commitments on Tuesday, signaling more air cover was on the way as November draws near. The initial investment is directing $38 million in broadcast and cable television to 20 districts threatened with a Democratic takeover, with another $10 million in digital spots flowing to 30 targeted seats.
“By reserving advertising early, investing unprecedented resources in digital, and running the country’s only House-focused national field program, CLF is prepared to lead the way in defending the House Republican majority,” CLF Executive Director Corry Bliss said in a statement.
Congressional Leadership Fund reported $15 million raised and $25 million in cash on hand as of March 31, the end of the first-quarter fundraising period. It expects the money to keep rolling in and is spending on television and digital advertising as well as field and data operations. The group is running field offices in more than 30 vulnerable Republican-held districts.
This cycle, dissatisfaction with President Trump in white-collar, upscale suburbs is jeopardizing the Republican Party’s hold on dozens of districts that have traditionally voted GOP for Congress. On the watch list are close to two dozen Republican-held districts that Trump lost to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Congressional Leadership Fund placed its largest reservation for a vulnerable Republican incumbent: $2.45 million in the district belonging to Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, who holds a seat in suburban Houston. Another Republican in a Clinton district getting help from the super PAC is Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Calif., who is running for re-election in once-rock-ribbed Republican Orange County.
House Republicans, bracing for a tsunami, are protecting a 23-seat majority that stood at 24 seats until Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Pa., won an upset special election in a blue-collar district in March. Trump’s job approval numbers, stuck in the low 40s for much of his presidency, according to the average of public opinion polls, is fomenting a possible backlash against the GOP.
But the generic ballot, gauging which party voters want in charge on Capitol Hill, continues to fluctuate. The Democrats have an edge, about 6 points on average, but not large enough — if it were to hold steady — to guarantee a House takeover. Below is the list of seats where Congressional Leadership Fund plans to advertise on television:
- Rep. Jeff Denham in California’s 10th District: $2.35 million
- Rep. Steve Knight in California’s 25th District: $2.1 million
- Rep. Mimi Walters in California’s 45th District: $2.3 million
- Rep. Mike Coffman in Colorado’s 6th District: $2.3 million
- Rep. Carolos Curbelo in Florida’s 26th District: $1.67 million
- Rep. Mike Bost in Illinois’ 12th District: $2 million
- Kansas’ 2nd District, open: $1.25 million
- Rep. Kevin Yoder in Kansas’ 3rd District: $1.7 million
- Rep. Andy Barr in Kentucky’s 6th District: $1.8 million
- Rep. Bruce Poliquin in Maine’s 2nd District: $1.2 million
- Rep. Mike Bishop in Michigan’s 8th District: $2.2 million
- Rep. Erik Paulsen in Minnesota’s 3rd District: $2.3 million
- Minnesota’s 8th District, open: $2.6 million
- Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraska’s 2nd District: $1.6 million
- Rep. Tom MacArthur in New Jersey’s 3rd District: $1.4 million
- Rep. Claudia Tenney in New York’s 22nd District: $900,000
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrict in Pennsylvania’s 1st District: $1.4 million
- Rep. John Culberson in Texas’ 7th Distrit: $2.million
- Rep. Will Hurd in Texas’ 23rd District: $2.1 million
- Washington’s 8th District, open: $2.1 million
