The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) on Sept. 14 announced a new fund to raise money for Democratic candidates for governor in what it called “challenging” races around the country.
The group said the Expand the Map Fund is its “first-ever direct no-overhead fund solely dedicated to further changing the playing field and how Democrats think about what states we can compete in.”
“I’m living, breathing proof that Democrats can compete and win anywhere, and that’s what the DGA’s Expand the Map Fund is all about,” DGA Chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “With strong Democratic candidates running in competitive races across the country, the DGA must be ready to make a difference if we see opportunities in states that people might not expect.”
In its announcement, the DGA said the new fund comes on top of its work to protect Democratic incumbents in states such as Arizona, hold open Democratic seats in Michigan and Wisconsin, and flip Republican-held governorships in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, and Ohio.
“At the same time, strong candidates are making really challenging races competitive all over the country and the new Expand the Map Fund is launching to make sure the DGA is doing even more to be prepared to make a difference if there are real opportunities down the stretch,” the group said.
Thirty-six governor’s races are on the ballot on Nov. 3. The DGA said there were 15 Democratic governors in 2017 and there are 24 today. It said that number includes seven governors in states President Donald Trump won, such as Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
The Cook Political Report rates the Arizona and Michigan races as leaning Democratic and Wisconsin as a toss-up. It rates the Republican-held seats in Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio as toss-ups. It rates Iowa’s open seat, now held by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, as leaning Democratic.
Cook rates four more Republican-held seats as competitive but favoring Republicans. Alaska leans Republican, and Florida, New Hampshire, and Texas are likely Republican. Cook also rates Kansas as leaning Republican. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited there.
In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs faces Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, faces Rep. John James (R-Mich.). In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democrat, faces Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.).
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, faces Republican businessman Rick Jackson. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, faces Republican businessman Zach Lahn. In Nevada, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton faces Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump pledged in early September to back James, Biggs, and Tiffany “100%” through November. DGA Communications Director Sam Newton responded in a Sept. 3 statement, criticizing the president.
“Republicans running for governor in battleground states cannot distance themselves from Trump’s toxic, cost-raising agenda,” Newton said. “Working families in Michigan, Arizona, and Wisconsin, and other swing states across the country, are paying the price and see clearly how their Republican candidate for governor has put loyalty to Trump first—no matter how much it hurts the people in their states.”
The Republican Governors Association (RGA) has said that the Democratic nominees in several of those states are out of step with voters.
After Beshear campaigned with Sand in Iowa in June, RGA Communications Director Kollin Crompton said national Democrats were backing Sand because he would carry out their agenda.
“National Democrats, from Gavin Newsom to JB Pritzker, are lining up behind Rob Sand because they know Sand will do their bidding,” Crompton said. “Sand wants to change Iowa’s safe, secure election system into California’s, base the state budget on marijuana, and raise taxes on working families. Iowans won’t be fooled.”
After James won the Michigan Republican primary in August, RGA Chair and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said, “James is a combat veteran, job creator, and a leader who can deliver results, clean up corruption, lower costs, and bring transparency to healthcare.”
In Ohio, the RGA-affiliated Right Direction PAC began airing its first ad of the race on Sept. 12. The ad focuses on Acton not having agreed to debate Ramaswamy, as well as claims of “drinking, drugs and incompetence.”
“Amy Acton is too afraid to debate because she knows that her record of incompetence will be on full display,” Crompton said. “Ohio families were destroyed by Acton when she was the COVID Czar, schools were closed and livelihoods were ruined.”
Acton’s campaign has said she will not debate, claiming Ramaswamy’s campaign has used deceptive ads including the use of AI-created ads with false claims.
In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on Tuesday, Acton’s campaign said the claims against her are false and criticized Ramaswamy and his “billionaire friends” who have spent “more than $50 million on disgusting, inaccurate attack ads that have been condemned as the ‘most vile and repulsive lies’ Ohio has ever seen.”
The DGA also responded to the ads in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on Tuesday, calling them “a disgusting and debunked smear campaign.”
The RGA did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times by publication time.
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