Good evening, I’m Ben Jacobs with the latest from Washington and beyond. If you’re not already receiving the midterms minute by email, sign up.
Democrats have too much money
The massive fundraising haul by Democrats means that candidates in key races may have more money than they can spend before election day.
Is this really a problem? Not really, instead it is a sign of how robust Democratic fundraising has been this cycle. Over 60 different Democratic candidates for the House raised $1m in the past quarter alone. The totals have led one top Republican to describe the threat in November as a “green wave”, not a “blue wave”, due to the sheer quantity of cash.
What happens to money that isn’t spent? The money can be put to uses in the future and could give candidates a head start in coming campaigns.
Republicans use Democratic talking points
In a number of races, Republicans have been echoing Democratic messaging, particularly about ensuring people with pre-existing conditions can still get health insurance. Although this was a key feature of the Affordable Care Act, many Republican advocates for the Obamacare repeal are now touting their support for protections for pre-existing conditions.
Is this a flip? Yes, although
