Republicans Make Safe Senate Seats Expensive Again
Republicans unveiled a disciplined midterm strategy Thursday aimed at transforming safe Senate seats into costly emergencies, allowing donors the privilege of purchasing the same states twice. The National Republican Senatorial Committee requested another $8.9 million to defend Alaska, Iowa and Ohio, all of which Donald Trump carried by double digits in 2024. The package directs $1.2 million to Sen. Dan Sullivan, $4.2 million to Rep. Ashley Hinson and $3.5 million to Sen. Jon Husted, demonstrating fiscal conservatism by setting fire to nearly $9 million in places already advertised as permanently red.
Democrat Mary Peltola leads Sullivan in recent polling averages, Josh Turek is running nearly even with Hinson, and Sherrod Brown leads Husted, developments Republicans described as intentional suspense rather than evidence of voter dissatisfaction. Party officials said comfortable victories suppress consultant revenue, alarmist fundraising emails and television advertisements warning that civilization will end unless a retiree in Toledo contributes $17 before midnight. “We could win these states very easily, but frankly that would be boring, and nobody raises tremendous money when everything is fine,” Trump explained. “I made the red states competitive on purpose, because excitement is good, panic is better, and the consultants tell me bankruptcy means enthusiasm.”
NRSC Chairman Tim Scott has told Republicans they are in “the fight for our lives,” the traditional declaration of an organization enjoying complete strategic control. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has advised candidates to run whatever race their states require, including distancing themselves from Congress, Republican leaders, Trump or any measurable consequence of Republican governance. Candidates will therefore campaign as courageous outsiders who have never met the officials whose endorsements appear in their advertisements. With Democrats needing four seats for control, Republicans said defending seven competitive GOP-held seats confirms the map remains favorable, provided voters, polls and subtraction can be brought back into alignment. The Republican majority is secure; arithmetic has simply joined the Democratic Party.
* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.