DCCC Cancels Three Weeks of Buys in Seats It Feels Are Safe
House Democrats have canceled advertisement buys in three House races where the party’s nominee is on a clear path to victory.
In Arizona’s 2nd district, New Mexico’s 1st district and Florida’s 26th district, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee cut its weeklong reservation starting Oct. 18, according to a Democratic source with firsthand knowledge of the changes.
Campaign committees continue to shuffle funds among House races, often moving resources away from hopeless campaigns to more competitive ones in the weeks leading up to Election Day. But committee officials argue these cancellations target races where they are sure the Democrat will prevail:
- In Arizona’s 2nd district, the DCCC canceled $85,000 worth of Tucson broadcast television. Rep. Ron Barber (D) faces retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally (R) in this district, which Roll Call rates as Likely Democratic.
- In New Mexico’s 1st district, the DCCC canceled $135,000 worth of Albuquerque broadcast television. Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) and former state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones (R) are vying for this open seat, which Roll Call rates as Safe Democratic.
- In Florida’s 26th district, the DCCC canceled $280,000 worth of Miami broadcast television. Rep. David Rivera (R) is reportedly under federal investigation (although the Congressman denies any wrongdoing). Polls show the Republican trailing his opponent, former Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chairman Joe Garcia (D). Roll Call rates this race as Leans Democratic.
The National Republican Congressional Committee had not reserved any airtime for these three House races.
Earlier this week, the DCCC trimmed $260,000 in ad time in another safe seat: Rep. Tim Walz’s district. Roll Call rates this race as Safe Democratic.