The National Republican Congressional Committee made a $45.7 million first-round ad reservation for this year’s battle for control of the House.
The ads target 22 competitive districts where the GOP hopes to maintain and expand its slim House majority in November.
According to an NRCC memo, 13 of the 22 districts are currently held by incumbent House Democrats, and the buy spans 29 media markets.
“The NRCC committed from Day One to not just hold our majority, but go on offense to grow our majority — today we are putting our money where our mouth is,” said NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson of North Carolina.
The TV and digital ads include a significant investment in Spanish-language advertising.
Over one-quarter of the NRCC’s initial reservation is dedicated to the five Trump districts currently held by Democratic Reps. Mary Peltola of Alaska, Jared Golden of Maine, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Matthew Cartwright of Pennsylvania and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.
The GOP considers these lawmakers’ districts “must-win seats for Republicans” and will link them to voter dissatisfaction with President Biden’s handled the border, economy and crime.
The NRCC is also buying ad time in districts in New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas, California, Michigan, Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Nebraska and Oregon.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made $28 million in initial ad reservations, prioritizing districts in Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — places where top-of-the-ticket races are expected to compete for airtime in the final months.
The Republicans took a shot at the Democrats’ spending, saying, “By comparison, 86% of the DCCC’s recently announced ad reservations were to protect their highly vulnerable Democrat incumbents.”
The House Democrats’ initial round of reservations — totaling $28 million — includes $16 million for broadcast television and $12 million in digital.
According to the DCCC, the $12 million reserved on digital is twice the amount Democrats initially reserved in the 2022 cycle.
The DCCC plans to leverage streaming and digital platforms, which the committee says, diversifies its media mix to reach voters in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
“Our focus on streaming and digital aligns with the new realities of how and where voters are consuming information. This approach ensures that we are equipped to effectively elevate the threat of GOP extremism and reach the voters who will decide the battle for the people’s House,” said Julie Merz, DCCC executive director.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.