As Democrats enjoy a favorable political environment nationally, multiple Republican incumbents and candidates have found themselves plummeting in the polls.
Republican leadership has been making some tough decisions as a result. In the past week, super PACs affiliated with GOP leadership have stopped funding five races where Democrats look poised to secure wins, including in three districts where Republicans currently hold office.
The New York Times reported the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04), cancelled remaining advertising for incumbent Reps. Thomas H. Kean Jr. (NJ-07) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) this week.
Internal GOP polling showed the party was unlikely to keep control in these districts, where respective Democratic challengers Rebecca Bennett and Christina Bohannan seem likely to win. The CLF’s decision to abandon two incumbents came shortly after the PAC decided to pull funding from the race to represent the district of retiring Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), where Republican Omaha City Councilmember Brinker Harding is fighting an uphill battle against Democratic activist Denise Powell.
In addition, the Times found that CLF was withdrawing funding that had been reserved for supporting campaigns targeting incumbent Democrats Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08).
Super PACs aligned with President Donald Trump have also jumped ship in these races, though it is unclear how much money they withdrew.
Amid dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump over the war in Iran, tariffs, and cost of living concerns, Democrats have seen a surge in support nationally that party leadership believes could allow them to take control of the House. Once thought a long shot, Democrats have also expressed cautious optimism for retaking the Senate from Republicans — a possibility that Republican leadership has also publicly acknowledged.
Though Republican-aligned PACs have poured millions into races across the country, often outspending Democrats, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has also aggressively invested in battleground districts to support incumbent candidates and challengers looking to flip Republican seats.
(Photo: Christina Bohannan, via Christina Bohannan Facebook)