Democrats are gearing up for the 2024 congressional elections with a $45 million effort to flip key House races in New York that ended up being the difference for Republicans in last year's midterms.
The Democrat-led House Majority PAC launched the New York Fund program to funnel $45 million to New York Democrats in an effort to re-gain control of the House in 2024.
Democrats held off the predicted "red wave" in the 2022 midterms, winning more seats in key districts nationwide than anticipated. But party candidates in New York didn't fare as well, ultimately paving the way for Republicans to capture a narrow majority in the House.
Why target funding to New York?
Democrats won more House seats after the 2022 midterms than expected – except in New York.
Eighteen Republicans currently represent districts across the country that President Joe Biden won in the 2020 presidential election. Six of those seats are in the Empire State.
Republicans, such as Rep. Mike Lawler who defeated incumbent Democrat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney in a district outside Manhattan, flipped four seats in the state.
What happened with the 'red wave?'
Pollsters and analysts predicted a "red wave" following the midterm elections where Republicans were projected to finish with about 230 seats – and a 25-seat margin in the House. But Republicans didn't have a landslide victory, winning only 222 seats, or a much narrower nine-seat margin.
Candidates lost in races where it was expected they'd win or came within smaller margins of defeating their Democratic opponents than anticipated.
Republicans now have a narrow majority in the House with 222 seats compared to Democrats' 212, which will grow to 213 when Virginia Democrat Jennifer McClellan – who won a special election Tuesday – will be sworn into office.
More:Despite a poor midterm, the GOP cobbled enough wins to flip the House. How did they do it?
How will the House Majority PAC target funding?
The $45 million will be used for a Democratic resurgence in New York next year.
The New York fund will help establish a plan to flip House seats blue using billboards, digital communications, mail, TV ads, registering voters, grassroots organizing and message development, according to the committee.
The committee's goal is to "define freshmen Republican members before they can define themselves" which they say starts with polling and focus groups to determine effective messaging strategies for Democratic candidates.
One possible race to target: George Santos' district
One seat the House Majority PAC may be trying to target ahead of 2024 is the district Republican Rep. George Santos flipped red by eight points.
Santos defeated Democratic candidate Robert Zimmerman in the redrawn district to represent Queens and Long Island.
The embattled New York representative, who is in the center of multiple investigations for lying about his past, has said he is unsure if he will run to keep his seat next year.