Michael Bloomberg Will Spend $80 Million on the Midterms. His Goal: Flip the House

[elleng]

Source: NYT

Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, has decided to throw his political clout and personal fortune behind the Democratic campaign to take control of the House of Representatives this year, directing aides to spend tens of millions of dollars in an effort to expel Republicans from power.

Mr. Bloomberg — a political independent who has championed left-of-center policies on gun control, immigration and the environment — has approved a plan to pour at least $80 million into the 2018 election, with the bulk of that money going to support Democratic congressional candidates, advisers to Mr. Bloomberg said.

By siding so emphatically with one party, Mr. Bloomberg has the potential to upend the financial dynamics of the midterm campaign, which have appeared to favor Republicans up to this point. Facing intense opposition to President Trump and conservative policies, Republicans have been counting on a strong economy and heavily funded outside groups to give them a political advantage in key races, especially in affluent suburbs where it is expensive to run television ads.

Mr. Bloomberg’s intervention is likely to undermine that financial advantage by bankrolling advertising on television, online and in the mail for Democratic candidates in a dozen or more congressional districts, chiefly in moderate suburban areas where Mr. Trump is unpopular. Democrats need to gain 23 congressional seats to win a majority.



Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/mike-bloomberg-democrats-election.html?

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His spending on House campaigns appears likely to exceed the involvement of donors like Sheldon Adelson, the Republican casino billionaire who recently donated $30 million to a “super PAC” aligned with Speaker Paul D. Ryan, and Tom Steyer, the liberal hedge-fund investor spending tens of millions of dollars on voter-turnout programs and television ads demanding Mr. Trump’s impeachment.

[deurbano]

1. That's great news! I hope some billionaires will also pour a lot of money into assuring all voters

are able to vote in states where Republican legislators and/or Secs of State and/or govs are working overtime to suppress voters' rights.

[appalachiablue]

12. +1 Also need voter education & outreach to register, combat suppression et al.

Excellent news, thank you Michael Bloomberg!

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. I always though some more progressive billionaire, if there is such a thing, should fund IDs

In those States where R Governors have instituted voter suppression laws requiring picture ID (except student picture ID of course). I'd like to see a Warren Buffet, or George Soros, or another like Bloomberg step up and say they will pay for any person that want's the acceptable photo ID but can't afford it.

[deurbano]

26. Like the guy from here in CA always running impeach Trump ads...

Fund a huge GOTV campaign that includes making sure everyone is registered and has a valid ID... and gets a ride to vote if needed (etc.).

[LiberalLovinLug]

29. Yes! rides as well!

I think putting your money towards that may be even more beneficial than paying for more attack ads that go in one ear and out the other, or are preaching to the choir.

[kimbutgar]

2. Forget ads Bloomberg

Help people get registered, get them ids and get them you the polls on Election Day.

Voter outreach and education is also important.

[PearliePoo2]

3. YES! Thank you Michael Bloomberg!

[onetexan]

23. DITTO

[NewJeffCT]

4. Still, didn't the Koch Brothers say

they were going to spend several hundred million dollars?

Thank you Mr Bloomberg, though, for helping to offset the normally HUGE Republican advantage.

[peekaloo]

33. The Kochs aren't happy with Hair Furor over the trade tariffs

Super happy with the tax cuts but they used the word "hamstrung" when referring to the effects of a trade war. It will be interesting to see where their money goes.

[Hulk]

5. Nice. The House is most likely going to flip regardless...

Where we need the real push is in the Senate. The red countryside needs to hear the honest message, loud and clear. The Metro areas are a mix, and most likely their reps are going to feel the anti-dRumpf message. The back country is the strong support for this monster, and they only hear vannity, limpballs, and fox propaganda. I've been there, and reality is they live in a cave.

[axm]

6. Maybe Bezos can toss in a billion too?

Payback for Donnie's unrelenting attacks on him, Amazon and WaPo?

A billion is pocket change...

[BumRushDaShow]

7. "His spending on House campaigns appears likely to exceed...donors like Sheldon Adelson"

That's because Bloomberg is #11 on the Forbes billionaire list and Adelson is #21.

https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/

[bucolic_frolic]

8. $80 million to try to grab 23 seats

and save America

I don't always agree with him, especially his "Business Week" magazine which has taken a libertarian tilt, but even to a billionaire this is not chump change and a significant investment in the political center.

It's a home run swing, hats off to the Mayor!

[IronLionZion]

9. Sweet! Then after we win, we should pass better campaign finance reform

to level the playing field for small donors.

Wealthy business people have mostly supported the tax cut party.

[KPN]

10. Absolutely! It might take a lot more than just being the majority to accomplish

stuff like that however. This is a long haul and we need to never forget that or give up because of that.

[PearliePoo2]

11. Hey Mr. Bloomberg, sir? Can you target that rat-bastard Devin Nunes please?

CA-22 is his district! Andrew Janz is the Democrat running against him. Andrew can use some money!

[DoctorJoJo]

19. YES! If Mueller Doesn't Get Him First!

[beachbum bob]

13. 10 more like Bloomberg stepping up to save America....the tidal wave

Height can not be predicted...70-80 house seats, flip 3 GOP senate seats and hold serve ours....flip 7 or governorships and state houses. Could be unprecedented.

[thesquanderer]

14. I'm sure billionaire Trump will match it on the other side.

[pecosbob]

15. Supreme irony

good billionaires vs. bad billionaires. This is where democracy died.

[trueblue2007]

16. I POSTED TO MY FB WALL.

[WinstonSmith4740]

17. Thank you, Mr. Bloomberg!

This is an incredible commitment on his part, and will do a lot to help swing the House. HOWEVER, with that being said...the Democrats have to stop wringing their hands over the voter suppression bullshit and get pro-active on it. Even a small percentage of that money could go a long way to help people get the necessary ID, make sure they're registered, get them to the polls on election day, etc.

[AZ8theist]

18. While I certainly appreciate what he's trying to do....

It's gonna take A LOT MORE than that....

Kochs dropped that much on the primaries..

[LanternWaste]

20. Thankfully, no one is arguing, or even implying otherwise.

"It's gonna take A LOT MORE than that..."

Thankfully, no one is arguing, or even implying otherwise.

[smirkymonkey]

32. Bloomberg is a lot more sophisticated and media savvy than the Kochs.

I think his money will go far.

[Stuart G]

22. k and r no text

[brooklynite]

24. Statement of Mike Bloomberg on the 2018 Midterm Elections

By Mike Bloomberg - JUN. 20, 2018

I’ve never much liked political parties. I’ve always believed that we should put country before party. Too many politicians practice the reverse, with terrible consequences for the American people.

But although I don’t believe in partisanship, I very much believe in the importance of politics and elections. That’s how we make change and progress in a democracy.

Over the years, I have supported candidates in both parties who were willing to break with partisanship and the special interests and seek common ground around solutions to make America better. I’ve focused my philanthropy partly around bipartisan gun safety, environmental and immigration reform measures, and my political giving has been focused around those priorities as well.

In the last election, for example, I spent nearly ten million dollars to help a Republican, Pat Toomey, get re-elected in Pennsylvania. I disagree with him on many issues. But after the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, he broke with the NRA and co-wrote a bipartisan bill to close the background check loophole.

At the same time, I spent roughly the same amount to help successfully elect a Democrat in New Hampshire – Maggie Hassan – who was running to defeat a Republican incumbent who had voted against Toomey’s bill.

This year, I'm supporting both Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates who have shown strong leadership on gun safety, the environment, education, and other critical issues facing the country.

It’s unusual to support candidates of both parties in a robust way, but that approach has reflected my belief that democracy and government work best when people from both parties work together. There are good people in both parties, and neither has a monopoly on good ideas.

I've never thought that the public is well-served when one party is entirely out of power, and I think the past year and half has been evidence of that.

Republicans, who control both houses of Congress, have done little to reach across the aisle to craft bipartisan solutions – not only on guns and climate change, but also on jobs, immigration, health care, and infrastructure. As a result, Congress has accomplished very little.

In addition, and no less troubling, Congress has essentially stopped acting as a co-equal branch of government, by failing to engage in the kind of oversight of the law that the Constitution requires and the public expects.

In fairness, some Republicans have taken their constitutional and legislative responsibilities seriously, like my friend John McCain. But too many have been absolutely feckless, including – most disappointingly – the House leadership.

Republicans in Congress have had almost two years to prove they could govern responsibly. They failed. As we approach the 2018 midterms, it's critical that we elect people who will lead in ways that this Congress won’t – both by seeking to legislate in a bipartisan way, and by upholding the checks and balances that the Founding Fathers set up to safeguard ethics, prevent the abuse of power, and preserve the rule of law.

And so this fall, I'm going to support Democrats in their efforts to win control of the House.

To be clear: I have plenty of disagreements with some Democrats, especially those who seek to make this election about impeachment. Nothing could be more irresponsible. But I believe that ‘We the People’ cannot afford to elect another Congress that lacks the courage to reach across the aisle and the independence to assert its constitutional authority. And so I will support Democratic candidates who are committed to doing both.

[LiberalLovinLug]

30. I agree it shouldn't be about impeachment

Let the public come to that conclusion on their own. Or at least wait until we have the votes to actually do it.

All Democrats have to do is keep banging away at all the things he SHOULD be impeached for and let the majority, including the media, come to that conclusion on their own.

[Jazzgirl]

25. I don't trust him.

n/t

[flibbitygiblets]

27. How about spending a big chunk on message/branding? R's have been kicking our ass

on that for years, with complete lies that are easy to ingest and regurgitate. We need to get the message through to the mouth-breathers that they are voting against their best interests.

Of course, by then, SSA and Medicare may be gutted, and farmers will have no one buying their fucking soybeans (and no migrant workers to pick crops), so it may be a moot point. But just in case!

[AlexSFCA]

28. mass voter registrationcampaign should start already

should haveresources for legal help with any issues regarding registration and voting in every district. Voters should feel empowered and know that they can get free legal help if they are experiencing the above issues. This needs to be the most actively worked on issue right now - voter registration well ahead of november.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

31. Soon to replace George Soros on the RWNJ hate list

[Hassler]

34. Here's hoping he runs better ads than his gun campaign.

[truthisfreedom]

35. Don't get bored for one moment. Rock on.

As always.

[FakeNoose]

36. I'm not in the mood to congratulate and fawn over billionaires

I think the billionaires are part of the problem, not the solution. Never forget that the Republican Party became evil almost 40 years ago when they did exactly that.

[harun]

37. I have to agree.

I am pro-democracy and an educated electorate.

[colsohlibgal]

38. Whatever It Takes

Nice having at least 2 ultra rich guys on our side willing to spend whatever it takes. We need the House controlled big time.