Politics

House Dems Spend Another $1.3 Million on TV to Prevent Losses

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is spending more to support five members in Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and West Virginia.

By Jack Fitzpatrick and National Journal
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Democrats are continuing to back up some of their most vulnerable House incumbents, adding $1.3 million in TV airtime in five races in the last two weeks of the cycle, starting Friday.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee bought additional TV ads defending Reps. Brad Schneider and Bill Enyart in Illinois,  Rep. Rick Nolan in Minnesota,Rep. Dan Maffei in  New York, and Rep. Nick Rahal in West Virginial, according to a DCCC aide.

On Tuesday, the DCCC bought time supporting Enyart, Nolan, Rep. Ron Barber in Arizona, and Rep. Collin Peterson in Minnesota. It also bought airtime in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, media market that could be used either to defend Rep. Dave Loebsack or promote candidate Pat Murphy in the race for Rep. Bruce Braley's open seat.

The DCCC's aim is to limit the party's losses, concentrating resources on defending incumbents in swing districts. The committee has given up on all but a handful of seats currently held by Republicans.

All five incumbents have been hit by millions in spending from groups including the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Congressional Leadership Fund, the American Action Network, and yhe U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The DCCC's ad buys are listed below.

  • Illinois's 10th District: $318,000 supporting Schneider from Oct. 28 to Election Day.
  • Illinois's 12th District: $485,000 supporting Enyart from Oct. 28 to Election Day.
  • Minnesota's 8th District: $65,000 supporting Nolan from Oct. 24-28, on top of a $740,000 ad buy announced Tuesday, running from Oct. 28 to Election Day.
  • New York's 24th District: $233,000 supporting Maffei from Oct. 24 to Election Day.
  • West Virginia's 3rd District: $163,000 supporting Rahall from Oct. 25-27.