The Senate Leadership Fund, a political action committee associated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is investing $28 million in radio and television ads in Ohio in support of Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance, who has been endorsed by former president Donald Trump.
As the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, the ad buy marks a significant increase from the estimated $5 million that national Republicans have invested in the Ohio race so far. Vance, an author, is running against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for retiring Sen. Rob Portman’s (R) seat.
Vance’s primary race was, in part, financed by billionaire Peter Thiel. But Vance was outraised 4 to 1 by Ryan in the second quarter of 2022.
Polls have shown a surprisingly tight race between Vance and Ryan, despite Ohio being a GOP-trending state. In 2020, Trump won the state by about 8 percentage points.
So far, the Republican PAC has spent big in the Georgia and Pennsylvania Senate races, investing $37 million and $34.1 million in each, respectively. But those races are considered more competitive for Republicans.
Asked by reporters in Kentucky about his midterm predictions, McConnell said there’s “probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate.”
“Senate races are just different, they’re statewide, candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome,” he said, according to NBC News.
According to the Plain Dealer, the new pro-Vance ads will start rolling out after Labor Day.
As the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, the ad buy marks a significant increase from the estimated $5 million that national Republicans have invested in the Ohio race so far. Vance, an author, is running against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for retiring Sen. Rob Portman’s (R) seat.
Vance’s primary race was, in part, financed by billionaire Peter Thiel. But Vance was outraised 4 to 1 by Ryan in the second quarter of 2022.
Polls have shown a surprisingly tight race between Vance and Ryan, despite Ohio being a GOP-trending state. In 2020, Trump won the state by about 8 percentage points.
So far, the Republican PAC has spent big in the Georgia and Pennsylvania Senate races, investing $37 million and $34.1 million in each, respectively. But those races are considered more competitive for Republicans.
Asked by reporters in Kentucky about his midterm predictions, McConnell said there’s “probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate.”
“Senate races are just different, they’re statewide, candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome,” he said, according to NBC News.
According to the Plain Dealer, the new pro-Vance ads will start rolling out after Labor Day.