U.S. House Democrats’ campaign arm announces Iowa ad buys

Democrat Lanon Baccam gave a victory speech at an election watch party held at the New Northwestern in Des Moines after winning the Democratic primary for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District June 4, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The U.S. House Democrats’ campaign arm announced Monday it is making $27 million in new ad reservations in the lead-up to the 2024 general election, including more than $2.5 million in Iowa media markets.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced the ad buys as part of an “offensive push” ahead of the November election. It is focusing on districts Democrats believe they can gain ground in, like areas former President Donald Trump lost in 2020 that have seats currently held by Republicans in California and New York. Markets in Iowa and Pennsylvania that the committee categorized as “red-leaning districts with vulnerable Republicans” are also being targeted, according to the news release.

The largest Iowa ad reservation was in the Des Moines media market, located in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, for $1.55 million. Democrat Lanon Baccam is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican. Election forecasters have rated the race as leaning Republican.

The DCCC has also made advertising buys in the 1st Congressional District with $534,000 for the Cedar Rapids market, and in Davenport at $438,000. Democrat Christina Bohannan is challenging U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the incumbent Republican.

The investments announced Monday are DCCC’s second round of advertising buys, following $28 million in ad reservations made in June. Julie Merz, the committee’s executive director, said in a statement that the purchases signal Democrats are in a “strong position” to retake the House majority.

“We’re able to make these moves across the map thanks to the record-breaking fundraising we’ve had — driven by (House Minority) Leader Hakeem Jeffries and fueled by the historic numbers of individual donors this cycle,” Merz said in a statement.