The Archive

THE AD GAME

Democrats dominate airwaves with abortion ads

Democratic ads on abortion rights have flooded the airwaves in the days after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

Since the Dobbs decision was issued last Friday, $4 million has been spent on abortion ads — a total of 56 unique ads and 8,900 airings, according to AdImpact. The vast majority of spots are from Democrats angered at the decision while Republicans have stayed relatively quiet on the issue.

In competitive Senate, House and gubernatorial races, Democrats and pro-abortion rights groups are leaning into the court’s decision as a way to motivate voters in November. Here’s a sampling of the major pro-abortion rights messaging Americans saw on their television screens this past week.

Senate races

Emily’s List also ran an ad praising Hassan for “working for a federal law to protect a woman’s right to make her own personal decisions.”

House races

“April Becker — threatening every woman’s right to choose. Exactly why we need Susie Lee, endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Lee will protect our right to choose — always,” the ad says.

Gubernatorial races

— Max Cohen

INSIDE THE LEADERSHIP

What’s next for Jeffries’ Team Blue

House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries is widely considered the frontrunner to be the next Democratic leader in that chamber – if and when Speaker Nancy Pelosi leaves. Because of this, a lot of people pay a lot of attention to what Jeffries says and does, us included.

So when Jeffries and a group of moderate Democrats launched Team Blue PAC last year with the goal of helping incumbents fend off primary challengers, many took that as a direct shot at progressives, particularly the Squad.

Jeffries has made no secret of his distaste for what he calls “the hard left” and its impact on the party. But Jeffries and the other co-chairs of the PAC – Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) – insist their goal is to keep the House majority. And, along the way, prove there’s room within the caucus for a broad ideological range of members, they say.

Still, Jeffries doesn’t shy away from making his feelings known about challenges from the left to incumbent Democrats.

“We will not let anyone intimidate members of the House Democratic Caucus as part of an effort to bend the knee, not now, not ever,” Jeffries told us of progressive efforts to topple incumbents.

We caught up with Jeffries this week after the fourth – and final – member endorsed by the PAC so far, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), won his primary challenge, defeating Justice Democrats’ endorsed Kina Collins by seven points.

The PAC also endorsed Democratic Reps. Shontel Brown (Ohio), Donald Payne (N.J.) and Dina Titus (Nev.). In addition to the $5,000 maximum donation, the PAC provided strategic campaign and communications guidance – not to mention Jeffries’ in-person campaigning.

All four won their primaries. But with those races over, what’s next?

The No. 5 House Democrat told us the group might play in another primary or two but then will turn to boosting Frontliners. Jeffries declined to provide further specifics on which Frontliners, saying the co-chairs hadn’t met yet to discuss their plans going forward.

“Primary season is coming to a close but it’s not over,” Jeffries said. “At the same time, there is clarity that putting the primary season behind us as quickly as possible will enable everyone to turn our attention toward ensuring that we win in November.”

We’ve said this many times — Democrats face huge headwinds going into November. They have a razor-thin majority, a historic midterm disadvantage and angry voters dealing with an unstable economy and calling for change.

So as much as this might be about holding the House, it’s clear Jeffries’ group wants to send a message to progressives that they’ll have to work a lot harder to take out establishment Democrats.

The Congressional Black Caucus, of which Jeffries is a senior member, has been particularly irked by the rise of far-left progressive challengers in recent cycles. Often, they say, progressive groups target Black members, such as Davis. And a number of them are still bitter about Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-Mo.) ouster of longtime Rep. Lacy Clay in 2020.

Progressives strongly dispute the claim that they are focusing on CBC members. They point to challenges against lawmakers like former Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and, of course, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s shocking triumph over then Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) in 2018.

Liberals have had more success this cycle in open seats — like Summer Lee in Pennsylvania and Jasmine Crockett in Texas — compared to trying to knock off sitting members. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) lost his primary but other members, such as Brown in Ohio and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), have survived.

— Heather Caygle

THE CAMPAIGN

“Mandela Barnes gets what working families are going through, and that’s exactly why he is the best person to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate,” Gallego said in a statement. Check out the full statement here.

So far, Barnes leads the primary field in endorsements from members of Congress. Barnes recently picked up the support of leading progressive Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif.). Plus, Barnes is backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), among others.

Gallego, of course, has attracted headlines for hinting at a possible primary challenge against Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).

The other Democrats in this race include State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Bucks’ VP Alex Lasry and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, among others.

— Max Cohen

MOMENTS

9:45 a.m.: President Joe Biden will get his daily intelligence briefing.

1 p.m.: Biden will hold a virtual meeting with governors about abortion rights.

2:30 p.m.: Biden will leave the White House for Camp David. He will arrive at 2:50 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris is in Los Angeles and has no public events scheduled.

CLIP FILE

NYT

WaPo

WSJ

Bloomberg

AP

Politico

Miami Herald

Louisville Courier-Journal