Politics
Democrats’ Expanding Senate Map Sparks Fight Over Campaign Cash
With less than two weeks before the midterms, Democrats are arguing over how to divide limited campaign funds among an enlarged slate of targets. Pressure is mounting to support Senate and governor candidates in states including Florida, Mississippi, Michigan and Texas.
WASHINGTON — Democrats are facing a campaign cash crunch as an expanded midterm map puts more races in play than the party says it can afford to contest fully, fueling disputes among its establishment and progressive factions over where the money should go.
The debate includes who should help finance left-flank Senate candidates Angie Nixon in Florida and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Black lawmakers are pressing for more funding for Nixon and Mississippi candidate Scott Colom, while Latino leaders have criticized Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and the Democratic Governors Association for putting too little into Texas, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa is viewed as within striking distance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
The funding fight extends beyond those contests. Democratic operatives working on other governor’s races warn that competitive campaigns could be left short as donors turn their attention to unusual chances to win Senate seats in Republican-leaning states. With the election less than two weeks away, the party’s allocation decisions could intensify internal divisions if the results disappoint.