On November 6th, Americans across the country will head to the polls for one of the most consequential midterm elections in a generation. Democrats have defined the scope of the debate in these midterms and focused relentlessly on healthcare, the Republican tax scam, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and providing a check on President Trump in paid media.
This is a small sample of Democratic ads but the story they tell has been repeated in districts across the country. From upstate New York to the Florida Keys, Virginia’s Tidewater to Orange County’s beaches, Democrats have run smart, well-funded, and effective campaigns. These Democrats have defined the contours of the debate and maintained message discipline in the face of an erratic President and overwhelming amount of special interest money pouring in on the other side.
Strong Bios: Democrats laid the foundation for their successes by recruiting an impressive, diverse array of women, veterans, CIA officers, and small business owners who had deep ties to their districts and compelling personal stories to run on.
Jason Crow (CO-06): “Serve” https://youtu.be/RXdo_eDvsHE
Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11): “Navy” https://youtu.be/t5Gb2RARb9c
Affordable Healthcare: In every single battleground House district, Democrats made the case against the Republican attacks on affordable healthcare and protections for those with pre-existing conditions like asthma, cancer and diabetes.
Antonio Delgado (NY-19): “Promise” https://youtu.be/9n8ZI34pvr8
Elaine Luria (VA-02): “Happy” https://youtu.be/Xt9hQVfBljQ
Prescription Drugs: The cost of prescription drugs and the Republicans’ abject failure to address it has been another key line of attack in Democratic campaigns. Republicans’ have made it easy to make the case because they’re drowning in money from Pharmaceutical companies.
Harley Rouda (CA-48): “Punch” https://youtu.be/m7YlHje_f4M
Dean Phillips (MN-03): “Phone Booth” https://youtu.be/I4F-OvGt4aU
Special Interests: It wasn’t just Pharmaceutical companies. Democratic candidates ran campaigns centered around getting special interests out of politics and putting the people of their districts first.
Andy Kim (NJ-03): “Service” https://youtu.be/b-PY4UHCUgc
Abigail Spanberger (VA-07): “Stack” https://youtu.be/PeuJl3mBSJ0
GOP Tax Scam: When Republicans passed their tax scam, they loudly proclaimed that it was the silver bullet that would save their House majority. Instead it became one of their biggest liabilities. Democratic campaigns seized the opportunity and aggressively ran against tax cuts for corporations and a $1.9 trillion deficit increase that puts Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block.
DCCC IE (CO-06): “Plain and Simple” https://youtu.be/csErsAdX8MI
DCCC IE (VA-10): “Percent” https://youtu.be/4yHFNyY_NMM
Republicans for Democrats: Strong Democratic campaigns are turning out Democrats, winning over independents, and because Republican control of Washington has been an utter disaster, even Republicans are crossing over to support Democratic candidates.
Jared Golden (ME-02): “Pub” https://youtu.be/IqxuETNd5NM
Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02): “Hometown” https://youtu.be/TTeLj9BHYTo
Trump: In districts where association with Trump is a top-testing hit, Democratic campaigns used Republicans’ concrete records of voting for Trump’s toxic agenda to highlight their loyalty to him over their constituents.
DCCC IE (CA-45): “Time” https://youtu.be/NhZZ0AixIt0
DCCC IE (IL-06): “Fallen” https://youtu.be/cjzUP5XQ2BE
Spanish-language: The DCCC launched its first Spanish ad of the cycle in California’s June 5th primary, on behalf of Gil Cisneros. Between the DCCC’s IE and partnering with individual campaigns, the DCCC has launched a total of 17 Spanish-language district-specific ads, making this the cycle with the most Spanish-language paid media.
DCCC IE (FL-27): “Tuit” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPVYaQmm9ME
DCCC IE (CA-10): “Promesa” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ud5YsNEoJI