GOP braces for Democratic spending onslaught in battle for Senate
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Todd Young (R-Ind.) is warning his colleagues to brace for a spending deluge from fired-up Democrats in what’s becoming an increasingly competitive battle for the Senate.
GOP senators have outraised their Democratic challengers and the NRSC has brought in more than the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), but third-quarter fundraising shows the momentum is beginning to shift.
One senator who attended a meeting last week where Young addressed the Senate Republican Conference about the 2020 fundraising landscape said there is “concern” Democrats could pull ahead.
Republicans say they’re worried outside “dark money” fundraising groups could pour millions of dollars into competitive races, and they note that one of their biggest fundraisers, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), will now have to focus more on his own reelection in the wake of Democrats winning the Kentucky governor’s mansion earlier this month.
“These ActBlue folks are taking money from everywhere, they’re killing us,” said a GOP senator who attended last week’s meeting with Young. “I think our chances are good, but there’s a ton of money being thrown at us.”
ActBlue, a group that helps Democratic grassroots donors give to candidates, helped challengers such as Mark Kelly in Arizona, Sara Gideon in Maine and Theresa Greenfield in Iowa out-raise GOP Sens. Martha McSally (Ariz.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Joni Ernst (Iowa) in the third quarter.
Senate Republicans control 53 seats in the chamber but have to defend 22 seats next year, while Democrats have to protect only 12.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/472008-gop-braces-for-democratic-spending-onslaught-in-battle-for-senate
= new reply since forum marked as read
