The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is throwing a substantial financial weight into Arizona, allocating $2.8 million across two key districts in an attempt to unseat Republican incumbents, U.S. Reps. David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani, who each secured their seats by marginal victories in the previous cycle. The move comes as Democrats look to fully capitalize on a politically charged atmosphere that includes contentious topics such as abortion rights and reflects a broader strategic push in battleground states.
According to Arizona Public Media, the DCCC chair U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene stated, "House Republicans are doing everything they can to chip away at reproductive freedom towards their ultimate goal of passing a nationwide abortion ban." DelBene explicitly voiced Democrats' intention to "take back the House of Representatives and defend our rights" in a fervent play to link GOP candidates to anti-abortion stances in hopes of flipping opinions and, subsequently, seats.
In a detailed strategy, Democrats plan to allocate $1.6 million in the Phoenix media market for Schweikert's district, with an additional $1.2 million earmarked for Tucson, home to Ciscomani's constituency. Both districts are considered pivotal in a House where the Republicans hold a slim four-seat majority and where control is expected possibly to swing based on outcomes in such contentious races.
Polling information indicates a tight race with President Biden trailing former President Trump by a mere 5 percentage points in a CBS/YouGov poll, underscoring the competitive nature of Arizona as a battleground. "We are holding Republicans accountable for their extreme anti-abortion stances," DelBene emphasized on a call with reporters, thereby aiming to appeal directly to voters' concerns on the issue. As highlighted by Arizona Public Media, Democrats are pinning hopes on the influence of a slate of abortion rights amendments on the November ballot to aid in driving up turnout.
The GOP, dismissing the potency of the Democrats' investment, remains confident in the incumbents. The National Republican Congressional Committee's spokesperson Ben Petersen described Arizona as "an uphill battle for extreme Democrats," according to an interview with Cronkite News. Petersen's statement seems to dismiss the threat, underscoring Republicans' belief in their candidates' records to assuage the electorate's anxieties ranging from inflation to border security.
Nevertheless, the funds earmarked for Arizona form part of a broader $28 million package from the DCCC, targeting swing districts in other battleground states like Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. This significant outlay stands in stark contrast to 2022's expenditure, which, at $190,000, was criticized by Arizona Democrats for possibly being less effective and demonstrating a lack of substantial backing for their candidates.
