(The Center Square) – Four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives occupied by North Carolinians are targeted in a $50 million campaign of nearly 20 key races in Congress, says American Bridge 21st Century.
Its latest push also is into Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Michigan, Colorado and Alaska. The Democratic Super PAC said “traditionally safe Republican seats – including districts rated R+3 or higher” are in play for them.
A release didn’t list any, but a published report says Rep. Richard Hudson – chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee – is among them. On the nonprofit’s “watch list,” only Rep. Pat Harrigan from North Carolina Republicans in the House is not listed.
American Bridge said its approach is a mixture of digital advertising, streaming television, streaming audio, social media, direct mail and AM/FM radio.
“Many Americans are angry that President Trump has betrayed them and we want them to share their stories,” said Bradley Beychok, cofounder of American Bridge 21st Century. “Working class voters are fed up with the cost, chaos, and corruption. Our investment aims to seize this opportunity in traditionally Republican territory. We will expand the map early and often.”
The super PAC, at this time, isn’t investing in the U.S. Senate race where Democrat Roy Cooper’s fiscal position opened ahead of Republican Michael Whatley and has remained there.
North Carolina’s representation in the House is 10 Republicans and four Democrats.
Of the state’s 14 congressional races, the toss-up category is absent in analysis by respected websites 270towin.com and CookPolitical.com. One that does figure a toss-up, the 1st Congressional District, is listed leaning Republican.
The 1st Congressional District, in the northeastern part of the state and not won by a Republican since the 1882 election, was reconfigured along with the 3rd Congressional District in an attempt to lift the candidate of the Grand Old Party into Washington. Democratic incumbent Rep. Don Davis tries to fend off Republican retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout just as he did in 2024.
Only the seat of Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., in the western-most 11th Congressional District is in the likely Republican category for both analyses. The other nine Republicans are in “safe” and “solid R” category, the closest each respective analysis gives option for all but sure thing.
On the other side, the other three Democrats are in safe and solid D.
This will be the sixth consecutive congressional election with a map unlike the previous two years earlier. Differentiations because of court orders have been in each map used for four of the last five congressional elections – 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. The Legislature drew it in 2024.
American Bridge 21st Century bills itself as “the largest research, tracking and rapid response operation in the Democratic Party.” It says its focus is to hold Republicans accountable and help Democrats win elections.
