The top House GOP super PAC is dropping another $18.5 million of ad reservations to help Republicans hold their narrow majority.
The new buys from the Congressional Leadership Fund brings the group’s total ad spending for the cycle to over $175 million for the cycle. The largest of the new reserves lie in New York and California, the two states where Republicans are defending a slew of districts in both states that President Joe Biden carried in 2020.
These reservations offer a roadmap into areas where the group sees the most competitive races. Only a handful of seats separate the two parties. Here’s a breakdown of the spending:
New districts: CLF is going up on TV in two districts where it wasn’t previously spending, including California’s open 47th District, where Republican Scott Baugh faces Democrat Dave Min. It will also spend $2.3 million to help Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa). CLF hadn’t previously reserved time there, but Democrats have placed buys against her. The group is also launching a mail and digital program to help Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.).
NYC + LA: The super PAC is adding $3.5 million in the New York City media market, which covers the districts held by GOP Reps. Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro and Anthony D’Esposito and Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan. In Los Angeles, the group is adding $2.6 million, which could be used to help Baugh or GOP Reps. Mike Garcia, Michelle Steel and Ken Calvert. In both places CLF is beginning their buys a week earlier than the previously planned, and its combined spending in both places is more than $65 million.
Michigan: CLF is adding another $1.1 million to flip Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s (D-Mich.) open seat, bringing its total spending for Republican Tom Barrett to $8 million. Slotkin is running for Senate. It is also adding $180,000 toward flipping retiring Rep. Dan Kildee’s (D-Mich.) seat.
The group is upping its buys against two Democrats in districts that Donald Trump carried in 2020: Reps. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) and Jared Golden (D-Maine). Other incumbents seeing a larger investment to help or target them: Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa).
Republicans have been sounding the alarm about a money gap with Democrats in both the House and the Senate. This will narrow some of the disparity, but the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC has placed some $215 million in reservations.
Fundraising from GOP challengers has been a particular weak spot, and in many districts CLF will have to spend heavily to give House Republicans a chance of winning.
