Four attendees told Politico that Sen. Tim Scott set Senate GOP spending priorities Wednesday: defend GOP-held seats in Maine, Alaska, Ohio, Iowa and Texas and target Democratic-held seats in Michigan and New Hampshire, without mentioning Georgia or North Carolina.
In Georgia, Republican Rep. Mike Collins is challenging Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff; in North Carolina, former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley is running against former Gov. Roy Cooper for the seat Sen. Thom Tillis is vacating. Cook Political Report rates Georgia Likely Democrat and North Carolina Lean Democrat. Both Republican challengers have consistently trailed their opponents, the article says.
Scott also shared polling showing former Sen. Sherrod Brown leading Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio, and former Sen. John Sununu in a tight race against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas for New Hampshire’s open seat. Whatley spokesperson DJ Griffin said the campaign was confident it would have resources to reach North Carolina voters. Sen. John Cornyn said difficult spending choices lay ahead and Texas was the most expensive race.
