A top Republican funding source is stepping into the Arizona Senate race in support of Blake Masters after a political action committee associated with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) canceled millions of dollars in ad buys last month.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee announced Thursday it will make a “seven-figure investment” in the Arizona battleground Senate race in which venture capitalist Masters has lagged in polling and fundraising against incumbent Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly. The Senate Leadership Fund, the top Republican PAC, reallocated over $17 million originally marked for Arizona to other races in two rounds of cancellation in September.
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“The NRSC has made a significant investment in Arizona, and we are confident that voters will choose Blake Masters over do-nothing liberal Democrat Mark Kelly in November,” said NRSC spokesman Chris Hartline.
The NRSC did not disclose the exact dollar amount of the donation, according to Politico. The NRSC did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment. The committee has already spent $11 million in Arizona to boost Masters against Kelly, and the mail and television advertisements the donation will fund are expected to start next week.
Kelly and Masters will participate in their only debate Thursday night at 9 p.m. EST before early voting starts on Oct. 12.
Masters has struggled in favorability ratings compared to his opponent. He is currently lagging 4 to 6 points behind in the polls on average but has an edge when it comes to top issues for voters, such as the economy, inflation, crime, and border security.
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Abortion, which Masters opposes, is likely to be an easy cudgel for Kelly to use against him in the debate. Masters has accused Kelly of being extreme on abortion for not supporting any limitations.
Masters will rally with former President Donald Trump and Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake on Sunday.
