GOP-allied groups heavily outspend Democrats in special Pennsylvania election

By David Weigel and Michael Scherer February 5 at 7:01 PM

Republican-allied groups have dramatically outspent their Democratic rivals 17-to-1 in the first congressional race of 2018, a special election in Pennsylvania that both parties cast as a potential bellwether for the November midterms.

Four conservative groups have purchased $4.7 million in television and radio ads to help state Rep. Rick Saccone, their candidate for the Pittsburgh-area seat held until last year by disgraced former GOP Rep. Tim Murphy, according to Feb. 2 numbers provided by strategists involved in the race. Democratic groups have spent less than $300,000 on behalf of Conor Lamb, who has waged a single-digit race in a district that voted for President Trump by 19 points in 2016.

Republicans are unlikely to change their strategy for the March 13 special election despite Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting a GOP request to delay redrawing congressional lines. That process is likely to increase the number of Democratic House seats in the state, though it is too early to tell what impact it would have in the 18th district previously represented by Murphy.

Republicans are counting on a win in the district to send a strong message to donors, strategists and party faithful as the GOP looks to hold onto its majority: Republicans will raise the money and spend it aggressively.

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