The Republican Governors Association is halting 2020 campaign activities in response to the coronavirus, ceasing fundraising and political attacks on Democrats until the pandemic is brought under control.
Governors are on the front lines, charged with making key decisions to stem the spread of the coronavirus. That has included, in some cases, ordering all but nonessential businesses to close, throwing millions of people out of work — a move that could open governors up to criticism down the line. The RGA is betting that voters will reward Republican candidates this November for the group’s decision to stand down and avoid criticizing Democratic incumbents and challengers.
“The RGA is not engaging in any digital or email fundraising or any negative political communications at this time,” RGA spokeswoman Amelia Chasse Alcivar confirmed Friday. “We are not using the COVID-19 crisis to attack our opponents.”
The Democratic Governors Association, which has continued to raise money and drop attacks on GOP governors amid the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic, has no immediate plans to cease politicking, a spokesman told the Washington Examiner.
The RGA and DGA are the political committees responsible for defending and expanding their party’s hold on governors’ mansions and acquiring new ones. This fall, Democrats and Republicans are targeting a handful of gubernatorial contests, with Democrats eyeing Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Vermont and Republicans looking to flip Montana and North Carolina.
Recent DGA missives have included internet-fundraising appeals for races against Republican incumbents in Missouri and New Hampshire plus a series of Twitter posts using the coronavirus to undermine support for GOP gubernatorial candidates. “Indiana is lagging behind other states in their #COVID19 response. It is clear that [Gov. Eric Holcomb] is not equipped to take on this challenge. Hoosiers deserve a governor with the public health expertise necessary to take on this crisis,” the DGA tweeted.
“Ninety-five percent of our communications is about what Democratic governors are doing,” DGA spokesman David Turner said. “Quite a few reporters would say the information we’re delivering is helpful to understanding the broader response to this crisis.”
