The Democratic National Committee added House Speaker Paul Ryan’s district to a list of districts they plan to target in 2018.
In a memo, the DCCC said the party’s success Tuesday in both gubernatorial and statehouse races made them decide to expand their field in next year’s midterm races.
The group made their first television ad buy in early October aimed at Mr. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, and his leadership in Congress.
“Paul Ryan and Washington’s establishment Republicans, catering to drug companies and special interests, coming after your health care,” said the narrator in the ad.
The six-figure cable ad buy also included a slew of radio ads across 11 districts.
The DCCC said that the 23 districts Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won in 2016 are the highest priority for them in the midterms, but they also planned to challenge 68 districts President Trump won. They highlighted the recent retirements of several Republican House members in competitive districts, including Reps. Charlie Dent and Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, as the beginning of more to come.
“It’s likely that this trend will continue as Speaker Ryan and establishment Republicans continue to fail to govern on behalf of middle-class Americans, despite unified Republican control of Washington,” DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján said in a statement. “In general, eliminating the power of incumbency creates a great deal of advantage for House Democratic challengers.”
Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia also announced his retirement Thursday, but his seat is still considered safe for Republicans.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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