National Democrats are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to boost a far-right, Trump-endorsed conspiracy theorist in one of the most closely watched House races in the country — further endangering one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump.
Driving the news: A new TV ad from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee portrays Republican John Gibbs as the true pro-Trump conservative in his effort to unseat Republican Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) — aligning with Gibbs’ own campaign messaging.
– Trump endorsed Gibbs’ challenge after Meijer voted to impeach the former president over his role in fomenting the Jan. 6 Capitol siege.
– Meijer, a freshman, had been in Congress just days when he took that potentially career-ending vote.
– Now Democrats, who see Gibbs as the more beatable general election opponent, are fueling the Trump-backed effort to oust one of his few remaining GOP critics in next week’s primary.
A DCCC spokesperson told Axios it plans to spend $425,000 to air the ad in the Grand Rapids market beginning Tuesday.
– “Handpicked by Trump to run for Congress, Gibbs called Trump ‘the greatest president’ and worked in Trump’s administration with Ben Carson,” the 30-second spot says.
– “Gibbs has promised to push that same conservative agenda in Congress,” the ad says, specifically noting hardline positions on immigration and education policy.
Be smart: The spot is couched as an attack ad, saying “the Gibbs-Trump agenda is too conservative for West Michigan.”
– Despite the framing, it hits on precisely the issues any Trump-backed Republican would want to be elevated before a primary contest.
– Asked whether the ad was designed to boost Gibbs’ primary bid, the DCCC spokesperson did not respond.
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The big picture: The Meijer-Gibbs contest is just the latest in which Democrats have meddled on behalf of far-right candidates in hopes of securing a more favorable matchup in November.
– Trump-backed candidates in Arizona, Maryland and Pennsylvania have also benefitted.
– Like Gibbs, those candidates have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election — a position national Democrats have portrayed as existentially threatening to American democracy.
Between the lines: Michigan’s new congressional map made Meijer’s district significantly more competitive, and Democrats are expected to nominate a candidate, Hillary Scholten, who lost to Meijer by just six points in 2020.
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- Discussion
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Democrats are meddling in yet another GOP primary, with a new $425k DCCC ad buy boosting the far-right challenger to Rep. Peter Meijer, one of the 10 House Rs who voted to impeach Trump https://t.co/vDz0DYOBbw
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) July 26, 2022
Any Democrat who supports this garbage *and* cries concern-troll tears about how there are no honorable Republicans any more should be ashamed of themselves. Of course, you have to be shameless to defend this crap in the first place. https://t.co/oLbM8C4dts
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) July 26, 2022
As I said in a recent piece: I see the current situation as an existential political crisis. I wish the Democrats would do the same. This is an insanely irresponsible political strategy and not worth the risk. In normal times, it might make sense. These are not those times. https://t.co/qvP3Q3d9SL
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 26, 2022
Between this, and Pritzker spending to promote election denier Darren Bailey, I continue to doubt if many dem operatives have a clue how threatened Democracy is. Play with fire.
House Dems try to sink pro-impeachment Republican in primary – POLITICO https://t.co/SrsH0hy9t5
— Adam Kinzinger🇺🇦🇺🇸✌️ (@AdamKinzinger) July 25, 2022
Axe weighs in… https://t.co/bP9p3T3tJ2
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) July 26, 2022
What Will Dems Say If Their MAGA Candidates Win? https://t.co/LagTDzFFaW
— Matt Lewis (@mattklewis) July 22, 2022
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