Nothing motivates donors like dislike. At least that’s the hope of Republican candidates running longshot campaigns to replace high-profile Democrats in deep-blue districts, many of whom are fueling their bids with small-dollar donations from Republicans across the country.
Among the Republican House candidates who received more than 60 percent of their funds from small donors, half, or eight, are running against high-profile Democratic incumbents. Five are challenging “squad” members Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), with three vying to take on Omar in November. Others are challenging Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). All but two are facing Democratic incumbents. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who have high profiles because of theatrics at televised hearings and their association with the (far-right?) House Freedom Caucus, also made the list.