Latest news with #MikeMarinella
The Hill
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
House GOP campaign arm outraises Democrats in second quarter
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) outraised its counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), in the second quarter of 2025. The House GOP campaign arm brought in $32.3 million in the second quarter of the year, while the House Democratic campaign arm raised $29.1 million in the same period. In June alone, the NRCC raised $18.1 million and the DCCC brought in $12.7 million. In 2025 so far, the NRCC has raised a total of $69 million, while the DCCC has raised $66 million. However, the DCCC reported having $39.7 million in the bank, while the NRCC has $37.6 million cash-on-hand. The NRCC's second quarter haul is a milestone for the committee, which is normally outraised by its Democratic counterpart. The last time the NRCC outraised the DCCC in the first six months and second quarter of an election cycle was 2021. 'While House Republicans build a historical war chest to grow the majority, House Democrats are broke, divided, and hijacked by socialists,' said Mike Marinella, spokesman at the NRCC. 'Donors are slamming the brakes because they know this party is pathetic, aimless, and has no chance of taking back the majority.' In their own statement, the DCCC noted they have 'the better message, stronger candidates, and necessary resources' to win back the House next year. 'Republicans are running scared because they know they are poised to be rejected by the American people next year,' said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.). 'Their support for the Big, Ugly Law is going to cost them the House Majority. It fails to lower costs for everyday Americans and instead rips health care away from millions, threatens funding for rural hospitals, and will lead to higher energy bills – all to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest few. It's no surprise that it's the least popular piece of legislation of the 21st century,' The latest numbers from the House committees come as the Republican National Committee (RNC) reported raising $96.4 million during the first six months of the year, while the Democratic National Committee raked in $69.2 million in the same period. The RNC also holds a cash-on-hand advantage of $80.78 million to $15.22 million.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP incumbents are outraising Dem ones in House battlegrounds
Republicans are racking up more cash than Democrats as both parties prepare to fight over dozens of House battlegrounds. Ten of the nearly three dozen targeted House Republicans raised at least $1 million in the quarter. Meanwhile, just one of the 25 GOP-targeted incumbent Democrats raised that much. It's a pattern across the House battlegrounds, according to a new POLITICO analysis of filings submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday by vulnerable incumbents. The median Republican targeted by House Democrats' campaign arm raised $860,000 last quarter — higher than the $689,000 median fundraising for incumbent Democrats targeted by the GOP. "House Republicans are steamrolling vulnerable Democrats in the money race, and it's not even close,' NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella said in a statement. 'While Republicans build a war chest to grow the majority, Democrats are leaderless, divided, and banished to the wilderness — and now their donors are closing their checkbooks.' The fundraising surge for vulnerable House GOP members could complicate Democrats' efforts to take back the House next year. House Republicans have historically struggled in the money race against Democrats, who have benefited from strong online fundraising. Last summer, many vulnerable GOP incumbents were outraised by their Democratic challengers. This time, it's Republicans who have a significant financial headstart. One driver of the strong Republican showing was the use of joint fundraising committees. Dozens of members received six-figure sums from committees linked to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), other House Republican leaders and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) led all vulnerable incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, with $6.4 million cash on hand after raising $1.3 million. He's one of just three Republicans representing districts won by Kamala Harris; another, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) also raised $1.3 million. (The third, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, is not seeking reelection.) Overall, 26 of the incumbent Republicans targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported having at least $1 million in the bank at the end of June. Democrats largely brushed off the Republican numbers, pointing to the role of joint fundraising committees. 'House Republicans are running scared – so they're turning to their D.C. Party Bosses to bail them out with big checks after voting for the largest cut to Medicaid and food assistance in history to pay for billionaire tax breaks,' DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement. Vulnerable Democratic incumbents largely put up solid fundraising numbers, but they were not as eye-popping. Among the 13 Democrats running for reelection in districts Trump won last year, Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-Wa.) led the way with just over $900,000, while the median quarterly fundraising was $689,000. A handful of Democrats who lagged in fundraising could face bigger problems: Texas Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar, who both raised less than $500,000, are among the members the GOP hopes to squeeze in its mid-cycle redistricting effort, which could make their seats even more difficult for Democrats to hold. Cuellar loaned his campaign $200,000, according to his FEC report. But there's still plenty of time for Democrats to catch up, and they point to strong fundraising by Democratic challengers to Republican incumbents as a positive sign. For instance, Rebecca Cooke, who is challenging Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.), raised $938,000 and had more than $1.2 million on hand. Van Orden raised $1.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million cash. 'They've got a [joint fundraising agreement] that Mike Johnson raised for them. They didn't raise it themselves, and they didn't raise it from individual donors,' said purple-district Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.). 'I don't worry that we're not going to have the resources to compete with a very unpopular party.' Meanwhile, several Republicans that Democrats are targeting in Trumpier districts pulled in relatively low fundraising totals — Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) raised just $53,000, Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) brought in $142,000 and Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) brought in $253,000. They each hold districts that Trump won by between 5 and 18 points last year, but Democrats still see them as worth targeting, anticipating voter backlash to Trump's domestic policy agenda. Not all the threats come from the other party. A handful of incumbents on both sides of the aisle were outraised by primary challengers. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) was outraised by two challengers, the Justice Democrats-backed state representative Donavan McKinney and former state senator Adam Hollier, although Thanedar made money from cryptocurrency investments. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), who raised $142,000, was outraised by challenger Elijah Manley, who brought in $210,000. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) was outraised by challenger Patrick Roath — $267,000 to $164,000 — although Lynch still has more than $1 million in the bank. And Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), an 80-year old incumbent who faces several primary challengers, raised about $64,000 last quarter and loaned himself $45,000. He was outraised by challengers including Everton Blair, a former school board chair, and state Rep. Jasmine Clark. Other Democrats outraised their primary challengers. Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) raised $212,000 to challenger George Hornedo's $158,000. Among Republicans, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) was outraised by Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon, $173,000 to $107,000.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Democratic campaign arm says tax bill will cost GOP its majority
House Democrats' campaign arm argued that President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed through the House of Representatives on Thursday, will cost House Republicans the majority in 2026, raising costs for working families and benefiting only the wealthiest earners. 'In poll after poll, public support for Trump and the Republican agenda is cratering. The GOP Tax Scam doubles down on all the anxieties the public has about D.C. politicians prioritizing their wealthy friends over everyday people — and takes a chainsaw to programs that are popular among a broad swath of Americans, from Trump voters to independents to progressives,' the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) said in a new memo on Thursday. The DCCC wrote that Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which Republicans passed through the lower chamber Thursday morning in a 215-214 vote, would enact the 'largest cut to Medicaid and food assistance in American history.' 'In a desperate, hypocritical attempt to inoculate themselves from their eventual vote in favor of this terrible bill, vulnerable Republicans whined, wrote letters, and filed meaningless resolutions to try and convince their voters they would not cut Medicaid and other vital programs. It was all a lie,' the DCCC said in the 2-page memo. In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the House Republicans' campaign arm, said that House Democrats 'just gave us the clearest contrast in years by voting for tax hikes, handouts to illegal immigrants, and open border chaos.' 'House Republicans are going on offense, fighting for working families, stronger borders, and more money in your pocket,' NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella told The Hill in an emailed statement. The sweeping legislation, which will now be taken up by the Senate, includes measures extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts and cutting taxes on overtime and tips, along with other measures bolstering funds for border security, national defense efforts and deportations. The bill would institute Medicaid reforms that could lead to millions of low-income people losing health insurance, according to recent projections, due in large part to amped-up work requirements for 'able-bodied' adults who do not have dependents. The legislation would also impose penalties on states that cover migrants who do not have permanent legal status. States would also share the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The NRCC is encouraging House Republicans to 'go on offense' when messaging about the new legislation, telling members that they have a chance to 'draw a sharp contrast with House Democrats.' 'This bill prevents tax increases to put more money in every American's pocket,' the NRCC said Thursday in a memo, which was first obtained by The Hill. The legislation is 'protecting Medicaid by removing illegal immigrants and eliminating fraud' and 'investing billions of dollars to build the wall and secure the border.' The NRCC wrote that House Democrats have given GOP lawmakers a 'generational opportunity to go on offense.' 'Their unanimous vote against the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill', a landmark package delivering tax relief, government efficiency, and border enforcement, handed us the clearest contrast in years. This legislation must be a key piece of Republicans' 2026 strategy,' the NRCC said in the 6-page memo. When it comes to messaging regarding Medicaid, the NRCC suggested to House Republicans to emphasize the GOP 'defending Medicaid for EVERY American who NEEDS and DESERVES it the most.' 'That means seniors, low-income families, pregnant women, and disabled Americans, not fraudsters, able-bodied adults who refuse to work, or illegal immigrants,' the NRCC wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
House Democratic campaign arm says tax bill will cost GOP its majority
The House Democrats' campaign arm argued that President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed through the House of Representatives on Thursday, will cost House Republicans the majority in 2026, raising costs for working families and benefiting only the wealthiest earners. 'In poll after poll, public support for Trump and the Republican agenda is cratering. The GOP Tax Scam doubles down on all the anxieties the public has about D.C. politicians prioritizing their wealthy friends over everyday people – and takes a chainsaw to programs that are popular among a broad swath of Americans, from Trump voters to independents to progressives,' Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) said in a new memo on Thursday. The DCCC wrote that Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which Republicans passed through the lower chamber Thursday morning in a 215-214 vote, would enact the 'largest cut to Medicaid and food assistance in American history.' 'In a desperate, hypocritical attempt to inoculate themselves from their eventual vote in favor of this terrible bill, vulnerable Republicans whined, wrote letters, and filed meaningless resolutions to try and convince their voters they would not cut Medicaid and other vital programs. It was all a lie,' the DCCC said in the 2-page memo. In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the House Republicans' campaign arm, said that House Democrats 'just gave us the clearest contrast in years by voting for tax hikes, handouts to illegal immigrants, and open border chaos.' 'House Republicans are going on offense, fighting for working families, stronger borders, and more money in your pocket,' NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella told The Hill in an emailed statement. The sweeping legislation, which will now be taken up by the Senate, includes extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts, cutting taxes on overtime and tips, while bolstering funds for border security, national defense efforts and deportations. The bill would institute Medicaid reforms that could lead to millions of low-income people losing health insurance, according to recent projections with amped-up work requirements for 'able-bodied' adults who do not have dependents. The legislation would also impose penalties on states that cover migrants who do not have permanent legal status. States would also share the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The NRCC is encouraging House Republicans to 'go on offense' when messaging about the new legislation, telling members that they have a chance to 'draw a sharp contrast with House Democrats.' 'This bill prevents tax increases to put more money in every American's pocket,' the NRCC said in a memo Thursday, which was first obtained by The Hill. The legislation is 'protecting Medicaid by removing illegal immigrants and eliminating fraud' and 'investing billions of dollars to build the wall and secure the border.' NRCC wrote that House Democrats have given GOP lawmakers a 'generational opportunity to go on offense.' 'Their unanimous vote against the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill', a landmark package delivering tax relief, government efficiency, and border enforcement, handed us the clearest contrast in years. This legislation must be a key piece of Republicans' 2026 strategy,' NRCC said in the 6-page memo. When it comes to messaging regarding Medicaid, NRCC suggested to House Republicans to emphasize the GOP 'defending Medicaid for EVERY American who NEEDS and DESERVES it the most.' 'That means seniors, low-income families, pregnant women, and disabled Americans, not fraudsters, able-bodied adults who refuse to work, or illegal immigrants,' NRCC wrote.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP's legal threats sink Democrats' billboard attacks over Medicaid
The House GOP's campaign arm in recent weeks has successfully pressed three advertising companies to pull down Democratic billboard displays bashing vulnerable Republicans over Medicaid — a setback to Democratic campaigners hoping to make health care a liability for battleground Republicans around the country. In a series of cease-and-desist letters, the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) said the imposing roadside ads — sponsored by a splinter group of the top Democratic super PAC in six battleground districts — promoted 'patently false' claims against the targeted GOP incumbents, warning the companies that they would be complicit in defaming those lawmakers if the billboards were left up for public consumption. The threat proved successful — the billboards in all six districts were taken down almost immediately. The development, parts of which were first reported by the Washington Examiner, has buoyed Republican campaign operatives, who say it gives them a playbook for defusing Democratic messaging — which has leaned heavily on warnings that Republicans intend to gut Medicaid — heading into next year's midterms. 'This proves our argument that Democrats are lying in their Medicaid messaging, and will make it much more challenging for them to make those arguments going forward,' said Mike Marinella, national spokesperson for the NRCC. Democrats think otherwise. They're defending the veracity of their Medicaid campaign, saying the ad companies didn't pull the billboards on the basis of the accuracy of the NRCC complaint, but because they're terrified of the current political moment, in which President Trump is attacking political opponents in the public and private sectors alike. 'These were unfortunately decisions not based in fact, but made due to coercion and threats from anti-free speech Republicans,' said CJ Warnke, spokesperson for House Majority Forward, a liberal advocacy group closely affiliated with the House Democrats' leading super PAC. 'House Republicans and the [Congressional Budget Office] have publicly confirmed that they are cutting Medicaid, and they will stop at nothing to silence the truth.' The billboard fight is just one battle line in the broader partisan clash over the Republicans' plans for enacting Trump's favored tax cuts and broader domestic agenda, the fate of which could hinge on how GOP leaders approach Medicaid. Amid that fight, House Majority Forward (HMF) contracted last month with three companies to display billboard ads in six districts held by Republicans facing tough reelection contests across five states: Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Colorado. Weeks earlier, those lawmakers voted to adopt the House Republicans' budget blueprint, designed to usher Trump's agenda into law, which set the stage for steep Medicaid cuts later in the year. Each billboard contained the same formulaic message, accusing the GOP lawmaker of voting 'to cut Medicaid in order to give billionaires like him tax cuts.' The 'him' was a reference to Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest person and the leader of Trump's efforts to slash federal spending, whose picture appeared on the billboards along with the targeted lawmaker. HMF's broadest contract was with Lamar Advertising Company, a Louisiana-based firm hired to display the Medicaid attack ads in four GOP districts, represented by Reps. Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman in Virginia, Monica De La Cruz in Texas and Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania. On March 19, NRCC lawyers wrote to Lamar arguing that the HMF's claims are 'demonstrably false,' noting that nowhere in the House-passed budget resolution was Medicaid even mentioned. If the company did not pull down the ads, the NRCC warned, 'you will be liable for the defamatory messages spread to voters in each district.' 'To avoid defaming a half-dozen sitting Members of Congress, your company must cease any and all plans to display these billboards to the public,' the NRCC lawyers wrote. The same day, Wendi B. Loup, Lamar's assistant general counsel, responded with a letter, sent via email, saying the company had complied with the request. 'Lamar's National Sales Campaign Specialist has confirmed that the copy is no longer running,' she wrote. Loup also offered 'to assist the NRCC with counter messages or future campaigns.' A spokesperson for HMF accused the NRCC of using 'dirty tricks' to force the hand of Lamar, while alleging the company has ties to GOP Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), which might have been a factor in Lamar's decision. Loup and Lamar did not respond to requests for comment. HMF hired a second contractor, Georgia-based Link Media Outdoor, to display a billboard ad in Nebraska attacking GOP Rep. Don Bacon over Medicaid. On March 22, the NRCC sent a cease-and-desist letter to Kerry Yoakum, general counsel for Link Media, with the same defamation warning the group sent to Lamar. On March 24, Yoakum responded to say the company 'has decided to tell the advertiser that it will no longer run the advertising content but will allow them to submit revised content that accurately reflects the circumstances.' 'If they decide to resubmit, I will review the content to determine that it is accurate,' he added. The HMF spokesperson said the group declined to submit a revised ad 'because we stand by the facts' of the original message. The spokesperson also claimed that, during discussions between lawyers for HMF and Link Media, the company's counsel expressed fears of sparking a public 'controversy' if the billboards were not pulled down. Yoakum and Link Media did not respond to requests for comment. HMF's contract with a third company, Colorado-based Street Media Group, followed the same narrative arc. Street Media was hired to run an attack ad in the district of Rep. Gabe Evans (Colo.), a vulnerable Republican who represents a region north of Denver. On March 26, the NRCC wrote to the company with its defamation threat. The same day, Ashley Steinbach, Street Media's general manager, responded to say the company had 'addressed the concern, and the ad was taken down as of 4:15 MDT this afternoon.' Citing conversations with Street Media, the HMF spokesperson said the company simply wanted to 'avoid becoming part of a political battle.' Reached by phone on Tuesday, Steinbach declined to comment. At the heart of the dispute is the fate of the Medicaid program under the Republicans' recently adopted budget blueprint, which GOP leaders passed through both chambers of Congress earlier this month. Trump's agenda includes several major provisions, including an extension of his 2017 tax cuts, which by themselves would add trillions of dollars to the federal debt. To counter those deficit spending effects, House GOP leaders have vowed to cut at least $1.5 trillion from federal programs over the next 10 years. More than half of that — $880 billion — is under the purview of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office, Congress's independent scorekeeper, has asserted that it's mathematically impossible to reach that level of savings without hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid spending. Republicans say they can reach their mark by cutting waste, fraud and abuse under Medicaid, which provides health coverage to more than 70 million low-income and disabled people. They're also floating eligibility changes, like new work requirements for able-bodied adults. Both strategies, they say, would allow Republicans to cut Medicaid costs without cutting patient benefits. During last week's House vote on the GOP budget blueprint, moderate Republicans pressed Johnson and GOP leaders for assurances that their support for the resolution wouldn't translate into cuts to Medicaid benefits later in the year. They said they got that pledge. 'We just wanted to be clear again with the Speaker, as we've had numerous times before, that we won't vote for something that shifts benefits from seniors and our vulnerable population that rely on traditional Medicaid,' Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said after the vote. Democrats aren't convinced that there's any way to slash Medicaid spending at the levels the GOP budget demands without eroding patient benefits. They're vowing to continue taking that message directly to voters — even after the NRCC's success in taking down the Medicaid billboards. 'Republicans can run from their proposal, which is the largest Medicaid cut in American history, but we will never allow them to hide,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters in the Capitol last week. 'Now that the committee process has been set in motion in connection with the budget resolution,' he continued, 'they will have to spell out the very cuts to Medicaid and other programs that we have been making clear for weeks now they are determined to visit on the American people.' Mychael Schnell contributed reporting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
