Republicans are outspending Democrats in races around the country for state legislatures — and by 5-1 in key battleground states, according to a new report.
The GOP’s State Leadership Committee is spending an estimated $50 million this cycle for state legislative and other down-ballot races, Vox reported.
Its Democratic counterpart, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, has committed to spending $35 million — which is double previous cycles, but still well short of the Republican effort.
Currently, Republicans control two-thirds of the legislatures across the country.
Figures compiled by the pro-Democrat Forward Majority Political Action Committee and cited by Vox show Republicans in the Florida House have raised $230,449 on average — nearly five times as much as the Democratic average of $50,237.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic state House candidates are getting out-raised by more than 5-1: $120,824 to $21,983.
“There’s a lot of talk about a Democratic fundraising advantage, and we still clearly haven’t learned our lesson that state legislature elections are going to determine the future of not just our party, but our democracy,” said Ben Wexler-Waite, communications director for Forward Majority, which works to flip state legislatures blue.
“We’re very much not seeing that at the state level, which, frankly, two years out from redistricting and 2020, is very concerning.”
However, Democrats have gained traction in key gubernatorial races this cycle.
Republicans hold 9 of the 10 governors’ seats considered toss-ups this year, according to the website RealClearPolitics.
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