The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has set plans into motion to staunchly defend key battleground seats in seven states during the 2021-22 election cycle. This comes as part of their strategy to build a durable majority in the United States Senate.
A significant element in their strategy involves a sizable financial investment, with reservations clocking up to $239 million for advertising. Although media plans are subject to change, this advance booking ensures these funds are set aside in their campaign budget for the forthcoming elections.
The seven battleground states that the DSCC has decided to focus its resources on are Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The choice of states gives us insights into their strategic thinking, with the upcoming election results expected to be fiercely contested in these areas.
In Arizona, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly is running for a full six-year term. Kelly’s special election victory in November 2020 against Republican Martha McSally was a critical move, effectively turning this historically red state blue. The DSCC’s reservation of $38.1 million for advertising underpins their intent to consolidate on these gains.
Georgia, a state that witnessed Democratic breakthroughs in both the regular and special Senate elections in 2020, has been allocated $55.7 million. These funds are aimed at bolstering support for freshman Democratic Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, vital cogs in the Democratic machinery.
Nevada represents unique challenges, with a Democratic incumbent, Catherine Cortez Masto, up for reelection. She faces a potentially challenging race, demonstrated by the provision of $22.3 million for her campaign. This allocation signifies the importance of holding onto this seat in the Senate.
Turning to New Hampshire, Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan’s re-election bid will be boosted with an impressive $31.8 million in advertising reserves. This strategic move by the DSCC emphasizes the significance of the Granite State in their political calculus.
In North Carolina, the retirement of Republican Senator Richard Burr has triggered an open seat race. The DSCC earmarked $36 million for advertising expenses, indicative of their efforts to flip this seat.
Another open race in Pennsylvania, precipitated by Republican Senator Pat Toomey’s retirement, has the DSCC funnelling $37.5 million into the campaign. This decision signals the party’s aggressive attempts to expand the Democratic presence in the Senate.
Lastly, Wisconsin, where the Democratic Party faces Republican Senator Ron Johnson, already marked by controversy. The DSCC’s allocation of $17.5 million in ad reservations showcases their effort to unseat Johnson, solidifying further their position in the Senate.
In sum, this unprecedented move of reserving such a huge sum in advance by the DSCC is an emphatic declaration of their intent leading up to the 2021-22 election cycle. Designed to secure key battleground states, this strategy could potentially have a crucial impact on the Democratic Party’s future in the Senate.