WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: DSCC “Announced Massive New Spending…Focused on Contacting Voters Directly with Less Than 50 Days Until the Election”

A wave of new reporting is highlighting the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s new $25 million investment in direct voter contact programs across 10 states: AZ, FL, MD, MI, MT, NV, OH, PA, TX and WI. The investment will fund programs that reach voters directly about the stakes of the election, information about how to vote and the importance of participating. 

Here’s what they’re saying: 

Associated Press: Democrats put up $25 million to reach voters in 10 states in fierce fight for Senate majority
By Bill Barrow 
September 16, 2024

• Democrats are pumping $25 million into expanded voter outreach across 10 states.

• The new spending from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, first shared with The Associated Press, comes less than two months until the Nov. 5 election and as Democrats are benefiting from a fundraising surge.

• “A formidable ground game makes all the difference in close races,” DSCC Chairman Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan said in a statement. “We are reaching every voter we need to win.”

• The latest investment will be distributed across Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. The money will go toward efforts to defend five Democratic incumbents and open seats in Michigan, Maryland and Arizona that are currently included in Democrats’ majority, as well as efforts to unseat GOP incumbents in Florida and Texas.

• Plans for the money will vary by state but will include hiring more paid field organizers and canvassers; digital organizing programs targeting specific groups of voters online; texting programs; and in-person organizing events targeting younger generations and nonwhite voters.

• The voter outreach spending comes alongside an ongoing $79 million advertising effort by Democrats’ Senate campaign arm and builds on staffing and infrastructure investments that the national party arm already has made.

Washington Post: DSCC adds $25 million for direct voter contact in 10 states
By Patrick Svitek
September 16, 2024

• The campaign arm for Senate Democrats announced Monday that it is spending $25 million on programs to directly contact voters across 10 states with competitive races.

• The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said the investment will help fund additional organizers in each state, as well as programs to reach voters on their phones and online. Programs will also target specific voting blocs, including young people and people of color.

• “This increased investment will help our campaigns expand their organizing capacity, communicate with more voters about the importance of participating in this election and ensure we are reaching every voter we need to win,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), chair of the DSCC, said in a statement.

The Hill: Senate Democrats pumping $25M into effort to expand voter outreach in 10 states
By Jared Gans 
September 16, 2024 

• The campaign arm for Senate Democrats is investing $25 million into direct voter outreach programs in 10 main battleground states with races that will determine control of the chamber next year. 

• The DSCC has previously rolled out massive funding for the Senate contest. It announced a $79 million plan for television, radio and digital advertising in the spring.

• The organization has also made multimillion dollar investments for organizing staff and offices in certain key battlegrounds and provided funding for staff to go on offense against Republicans in all 10 states.

Fox News: Dems pour $25M into ground game
By Julia Johnson
September 16, 2024

• The Democrats’ Senate campaign arm announced massive new spending across the country on Monday focused on contacting voters directly with less than 50 days until the election. 

• “A formidable ground game makes all the difference in close races – which is why the DSCC has been working all cycle long to build the organizing infrastructure that will lead to Senate Democrats’ victory,” DSCC Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., said in a statement. 

• In the 10 states, the DSCC’s cash injection will be spent on extra political organizers on the ground, in addition to programs for phone banking, targeted voter constituencies and digital organizing.

• The committee also said it could increase this funding ahead of the election. 

Newsweek: Map Shows 10 States Targeted by Democrats in $25 Million Voter Drive
By Khaleda Rahman
September 16, 2024

• Democrats are investing $25 million into expanding voter outreach across 10 states in a bid to defend their narrow Senate majority.

• The spending comes just seven weeks before the November 5 election and as Democrats have seen a surge in fundraising and enthusiasm.

National Journal: DSCC invests $25M into direct voter contact across 10 states
Nicholas Anastácio
September 16, 2024

• The DSCC is announcing a new investment of $25 million in “direct voter contact programs across 10 states,” providing funding for ground organizers, phone banking, and digital organizing efforts. The investment will be made in Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Axios Miami: National Democrats invest in 10 states, including Florida Senate race
By Sommer Brugal
September 17, 2024

• Florida is among 10 states national Democrats are targeting for a $25 million push to expand voter outreach, according to multiple outlets.

• Why it matters: New spending from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee shows the party is working to maintain its Senate advantage and sees winning in the Sunshine State as a potential way to do that.

• How it works: The investment will defend Democratic incumbents and open seats in some states.

• In Florida, it’ll support efforts to unseat Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who faces Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

MSNBC’s The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell
September 16, 2024

Sen. Peters: “Last cycle, it was our ground campaign that allowed us to win these very tight races. Today, we announced that we’re investing $25 million into our incumbent seats, as well as our pickup opportunities in Florida and Texas.” 

Scripps News On the Scene
September 16, 2024

“Democrats are upping their efforts to make sure they keep the Senate majority in November. $25 million will go into expanding voter outreach across 10…states. That money is coming from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. How that money is being spent will vary by state, but it is expected to be used towards online and in-person organizing events to target younger generations and nonwhite voters.”

Spectrum News San Antonio
September 16, 2024

“On the Senate campaign trail, national Democrats are making a big push to unseat Senator Ted Cruz this November. That’s after the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee invested $25 million to expand voter outreach across 10 states, including right here in Texas. The funding will go toward hiring more field organizers, texting programs and in-person events targeting the younger generation.”

Good Morning Arizona
September 16, 2024

“Democrats are pumping $25 million into expanded voter outreach across 10 states that includes us here in Arizona, this as part of their effort to protect their narrow Senate majority. The new spending comes from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.”

Fox 17 Morning News Grand Rapids
September 16, 2024

“Democrats are now investing $25 million into voter outreach across 10 states, including here in Michigan, that money going towards hiring field organizers and canvassers online and text outreach and in-person organizing events.”

See also: DSCC Announces New Multi-Million Dollar Investment in Direct Voter Contact Programs; QUICK CLIP: DSCC Chair Peters Discusses Senate Democrats’ $25 Million Investment in Direct Voter Contact Programs, “Pickup Opportunities in Florida and Texas” [MSNBC]. 

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