Democrats book $27 million in ads in California congressional races

In a sign of how important several tight California congressional races are to determining control of Congress in the November election, a Democratic super PAC has booked more than $27 million in television and digital ads in the state. It’s the most the House Majority PAC booked in any state in its initial $186-million advertising buy announced Sunday, the largest amount the organization has ever spent in early campaigning. “If the resources are there, we will hold the Majority this fall.” The Democratic political action committee announced last year that it would spend $35 million in the state, roughly triple what it did on California congressional races in the 2022 midterm elections, when Democrats underperformed in some districts that should have been strongholds. However, Democrats need to win four seats to take control of the House, which is why the House Majority PAC’s spending plan — which is aimed at 45 congressional districts nationwide, including Republican-held seats in districts that President Biden won in 2020 — is so focused on California. This area’s television ads are seen by voters in the districts of GOP Reps. Mike Garcia of Santa Clarita, Ken Calvert of Corona, Michelle Steel of Seal Beach and Young Kim of Anaheim Hills, several of which are expected to be fiercely contested in November, as well as the bitter race being waged for the purple Orange County seat vacated by Katie Porter for the Democrat’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate run.