Former President Donald Trump’s MAGA, Inc., political action committee will pay for television advertising in Ohio and Pennsylvania beginning Oct. 7.
The committee was formed by Trump aides in late September, and is expected to spend in races where the former president has endorsed Republican candidates, as reported by AdImpact. Trump has endorsed JD Vance in Ohio and Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania. Both candidates are running to replace retiring GOP incumbents.
We just saw our first spending by MAGA Inc., a new super PAC sanctioned by former President Trump. They just placed broadcast reservations in Ohio. So far we have seen $276K in Columbus and Cleveland.
https://t.co/ODa6TK6UIq via @politico
— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) October 6, 2022
Trump has not yet spent in any midterm races, instead amassing a nine-figure war chest through his Save America PAC, according to Politico. Some Republican campaign hands have expressed concern that he would stay on the sidelines, despite endorsing more than 200 candidates in the primaries. Many Republicans in marquee races, including Vance and Oz, have struggled financially.
CNN contributor and longtime GOP strategist Scott Jennings emphasized in a recent interview that additional spending from Trump was unexpected.
“He’s aiming for a presidential campaign. It would be a pleasant surprise, but I don’t think anyone is expecting it,” he told the Daily Caller.
The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), closely linked to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has also spent heavily in both races. SLF has dropped more than $31 million in Ohio in support of Vance, and $3.67 million in support of Oz. Polls show Vance and Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan running within the margin of error. Oz currently trails Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, though data shows the race tightening. (RELATED: Pennsylvania Senate Polls Tighten As Dr. Oz Hits The Campaign Trail)
Trump appeared at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 3, for Oz, and followed up with Vance two weeks later in Youngstown, Ohio. Trump ripped into the Republicans’ opponents during both rallies, blaming them for spiking crime.
“I don’t like those dirty sweatsuits. They’re disgusting. Fetterman may dress like a teenager getting high in his parents’ basement but he’s a raging lunatic hellbent on springing hardened criminals out of jail in the middle of the worst crime wave in Pennsylvania history,” Trump said.
In addition to Oz and Vance, Trump has endorsed incumbent Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania nominee Doug Mastriano. He is also supporting twelve House candidates in Ohio and six in Pennsylvania.