

Major Republican funders have spent the vast majority of their resources on opposing Democratic candidates, while the Democrats are in the midst of record-breaking spending this election cycle.

OpenSecrets identified 10 Democratic opponents who have received — overall this cycle — the most financial opposition from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF). These two major spenders are directing their financial efforts toward a variety of competitive campaigns.

Throughout the cycle, both groups have spent large amounts on candidates recently considered lost causes. CLF has substantially raised more funds than NRCC and spent more opposing Democratic candidates.

As of Oct. 16, CLF spent $87 million, while the NRCC spent $47.4 million.

Congressional Leadership Fund

In Southern California, CLF recently pledged to spend $12 million on some competitive House races, but not all of them.

CLF will buy ads for Rep. Steve Knight (Calif. 25) and Republican candidate Young Kim in California’s 39th District. So far, CLF has already spent $3.8 million opposing Gil Cisneros, the Democratic candidate running against Kim.

But CLF has not said whether they will support two endangered Republican incumbents, Mimi Walters (Calif. 45) and Dana Rohrabacher (Calif. 48).

In another Southern California district, the super PAC spent $3 million opposing Rep. Jeff Denham’s (Calif. 10) Democrat challenger, Josh Harder.

Over in Minnesota’s 8th District, CLF spent $3.8 million against Joe Radinovich, who is facing Republican candidate Pete Stauber. Radinovich and Stauber are running to fill a seat long-held by Democrats.

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In Pennsylvania, Rep. Keith Rothfus is running in the state’s new 17th District, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the congressional map unconstitutional earlier this year. Rothfus used to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th District.

While Republicans have signaled that Rothfus is a lost cause, CLF has spent $3 million opposing Rep. Conor Lamb, the Democrat representative from the former 18th District. Some of that sum was spent on a special election from earlier this year.

Another candidate who was previously considered a lost cause was Rep. Rod Blum (Iowa 1). However, on Tuesday, The Hill reported that CLF pledged $1 million in late advertisements for the candidate. Blum had not received much financial support from either CLF or the NRCC at this point in the cycle.

In New York’s 12th District, CLF is spending big to oppose Anthony Brindisi, the Democrat challenging Rep. Claudia Tenney. The super PAC has so far spent $3 million.

National Republican Congressional Committee

The NRCC has also not given up on a candidate who is losing hope from Republicans. The committee spent $3.1 million opposing Jennifer Wexton, the Democratic candidate running against Rep. Barbara Comstock (Va. 10).

Another candidate deemed a lost cause is Mike Bishop in Michigan’s 8th District. But the NRCC has spent $2.1 million opposing Democratic candidate Elissa Slotkin.

Democratic candidate Daniel Feehan, in Minnesota’s 1st District, has received considerable opposition from the NRCC. Feehan is running against Republican Jim Hagedorn.

The NRCC spent $2.4 million so far opposing Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is challenging Rep. Carlos Curbelo in Florida’s 26th District.

In Nevada’s 4th District, the committee is opposing Democrat Steven Horsford, who is running against Republican Cresent Hardy. The NRCC has spent $2.3 million so far opposing Horsford.



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