GOP seizes on debt ceiling vote to target vulnerable Democrats in new attack ads

Republicans Launch Ad Campaign Targeting Democrats Over Debt Ceiling Vote

Just one day after the House narrowly passed the GOP-led debt ceiling package, Republicans started using the vote to target vulnerable Democrats in a series of new ads that attack the lawmakers for voting against the legislation.

The American Action Network, a debt ceiling vote to target vulnerable Democrats in new attack ads”>conservative nonprofit advocacy group, launched the six-figure ad buy earlier this week, hitting on House Democrats for voting against the debt limit bill and accusing them of “putting the economy in crisis.”

The ads are set to run in the districts of some of the most vulnerable House Democrats, including those who are running in districts that former President Donald Trump carried in 2020.

• Mary Peltola (D-AK)
• Yadira Caraveo (D-CO)
• Jared Golden (D-ME)
• Dan Kildee (D-MI)
• Wiley Nickel (D-NC)
• Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
• Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
• Emilia Sykes (D-OH)
• Susan Wild (D-PA)
• Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
• Marie Perez (D-WA)

The ads are also set to play in the districts of some top House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern (D-MA), and House Budget Committee ranking member Brendan Boyle (D-PA).

The attack messaging comes as Republicans seek to control the narrative surrounding the debt ceiling crisis, a subject that is likely to become a top talking point during the 2024 cycle.

The ad also takes aim at President Joe Biden over his refusal to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to continue negotiations, which the president has said he won’t do until the House passes a clean debt ceiling increase.

The United States hit its debt ceiling on Jan. 19, raising fears of a default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her department would take “extraordinary measures” to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its obligations, but the department will only have a few months before those measures are exhausted.

What the Ad Says

The ad says, “They refused to responsibly raise the debt ceiling. They voted against saving billions in unspent COVID funds, rejected cutting red tape to lower your costs, and even voted against reducing America’s debt, keeping us reliant on China.”

“Instead of negotiating commonsense solutions, they’re putting the American economy in crisis,” the ad says.

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