CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – House Republicans are launching multi-million-dollar ad campaigns in Virginia and Florida ahead of midterm elections, according to NBC News.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC associated with House Speaker Mike Johnson, is directing $3.1 million in ad buys to Virginia’s Norfolk market, along with nearly $19 million to Florida.
“This additional $22 million investment underscores CLF’s strength heading into the fall,” Chris Winkelman, the PAC’s President, wrote in a statement. “CLF remains well-resourced with battle-tested incumbents, high-quality candidates, and favorable terrain.”
Larry Sabato, the Director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, says the national focus on the Norfolk area aligns with Virginia’s 1st and 2nd Congressional districts, currently represented by Republicans Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans.
“The two districts considered most likely to flip are right next to each other, and served by the same overlapping media markets,” Sabato said.
NBC also notes that Republicans have picked up victories in the nationwide redistricting battle in both Virginia and Florida – but in very different ways. While Republicans were successful in redrawing lines in Florida, Virginia Democrats’ efforts to create a new map were squashed by the State Supreme Court in May.
With prominent Democrats – including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries – pouring tens of millions into Virginia’s failed redistricting endeavor, Sabato says, the party now has less to spend on the midterms overall.
“The Republicans have an enormous, enormous amount of extra money that they’re going to be spending,” Sabato said.
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