With their Democratic counterparts reeling from a loss in Georgia’s sixth district on Tuesday, Republican operatives are celebrating the end of a successful special election season.
On a phone call with reporters Wednesday morning, RNC Political Director Juston Johnson and NRCC Executive Director John Rogers broke down the party’s victories in spring races from Kansas to Montana to South Carolina. Johnson characterized Karen Handel’s win over Jon Ossoff as a “fantastic team effort,” showcasing the race as evidence that the RNC’s investment paid off.
“Fun night last night,” said Rogers, thanking various people and organizations for their efforts to support Handel, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and the White House, the latter of which he added had been “awesome” throughout the campaign.
Democrats, Rogers explained, “basically put their kids college savings on the line” to boost Ossoff, who brought in nearly $24 million. “This was everything for them.”
Both Johnson and Rogers agreed they knew Handel was poised to win about three weeks out, when early voting began.
But beyond the Atlanta suburbs, Rogers pointed to the GOP’s clean sweep of special election challenges, noting Republican successes in states around the country. Races in Kansas and Montana, he said, were missed opportunities for the Democrats.
Referring to the special election in Kansas, Rogers contended, “I don’t believe that [Democrats] really ever saw the potential in that race. I don’t think they took it seriously.” He echoed that criticism when it came to Montana’s special election, saying the DCCC, “didn’t really take that seriously” either.
While Democrats spent much of the winter gleefully predicting a midterm surge propelled by the president’s low approval ratings, strong Republican performances boosted by the effective party infrastructure robbed liberals of the harbinger of electoral success they were hoping for. After ballots were counted in Georgia and South Carolina, DNC Chairman Tom Perez tweeted at Ossoff and Archie Parnell, “You both make me proud to be a Democrat & even more committed to fighting.”
He’ll need to be, if Democrats have any chance at living up to their own electoral ambitions.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
