Staff Reports
In the midst of the tumultuous election season, two House Democrats have busted out their piggy banks and splurged on campaign advertisements like it’s going out of style. Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Angie Craig (D-MN) are living it up as the top spenders on campaign television ads, treating viewers to a high-stakes spending spree that can only be compared to a massive shopping spree at their favorite mall.
Democrats emerge as top two spenders in House races https://t.co/wpDMgk5IJb https://t.co/wpDMgk5IJb
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 3, 2024
Suozzi, who struck gold by winning a special election for former Rep. George Santos’s seat in February, broke the bank and shelled out a whopping $3.5 million on TV ads. Meanwhile, Craig isn’t far behind, having blown through a cool $2.4 million on ad buys. It’s like they’re competing in a never-ending game of who can spend the most money, and they’re not holding back.
Both Suozzi and Craig are sitting ducks in districts that Republicans have in their crosshairs for the November elections. The GOP is thirsty to keep control of the House of Representatives, and they’ve set their sights on these juicy Democratic seats. Suozzi’s seat did the ol’ switcheroo to the GOP in the 2022 election, and Santos got the boot in December 2023 after getting indicted. On the other hand, Craig’s seat is on the hit list of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which means it’s open season for these Republican hunters.
The highly esteemed Cook Political Report rates Craig’s district as “Democrat +1” and Suozzi’s district as “Democrat +3.” According to their crystal ball, Craig’s district is leaning Democrat, while Suozzi’s is like a well-bolted door that’s likely to stay Democrat. It’s a small wonder that Republicans are salivating over these districts like a kid in a candy store.
With Republicans clenching onto a thin majority and Suozzi scoring a special election victory, they’ve got their eyes on the prize, aiming to snatch up those vulnerable Democratic seats and secure their hold on power. It’s like a game of musical chairs, and Republicans are ready to swoop in and claim their seats when the music stops.
The spending spree doesn’t stop with Suozzi and Craig. Other big spenders in the first three months of the year, as reported, included Republican Kelly Daughtry dropping a hefty $2 million in the North Carolina 13th Congressional District primary and Republican Fred Von Canon tossing in a cool $1.5 million. It’s like they’re all participating in a high-stakes auction, throwing money around like confetti at a never-ending party.
With such extravagant spending and intense competition, it’s clear that these Democrats and Republicans are pulling out all the stops to win over voters and secure their places in the political arena. It’s a wild ride, and there’s no telling who will come out on top in the end. But one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a nail-biter of a race to the finish line!
