GOP Super PACs Pull $10 Million From Kean and Miller-Meeks Races

The Congressional Leadership Fund is pulling $10 million out of four congressional districts, including the ones held by Reps. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, and sending the money to other battlegrounds. A spokeswoman for the super PAC confirmed the shift on Tuesday.

The Des Moines Register described it as the first time a major national Republican group has abandoned a GOP incumbent this cycle. Election Day is Nov. 3, less than a month away.

The move is about math. “For two years, we’ve built the resources and infrastructure that allow us to maneuver in a difficult environment,” said Congressional Leadership Fund president Chris Winkelman. “These moves keep the pressure on the most vulnerable Democrats and preserve a path to 218 seats.” Two hundred eighteen is the number needed for a House majority.

A Trump-affiliated super PAC, MAGA Inc., is making the same call. It is halting planned spending in the Kean and Miller-Meeks districts for the rest of the cycle, Fox News Digital reported, and routing the money into other races after polling showed both incumbents’ chances fading.

The seats are two of the most competitive in the country. Cook Political Report shifted all three Iowa races toward Democrats on Oct. 9, moving the 2nd District from “leans Republican” to toss-up and the 1st and 3rd from toss-up to “leans Democrat.” Miller-Meeks faces her third rematch with Democrat Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor; independent Michael Bridgford of Bettendorf is also on the ballot. Cook has labeled Kean a “clear underdog” against Democrat Rebecca Bennett in New Jersey’s 7th District.

A person close to Kean’s campaign pushed back, telling Fox News Digital that “the race is fully funded down the home stretch.” The campaign and House Republicans’ campaign arm have major broadcast reservations, the person said, while Bennett has no outside spending reserved on her behalf.

The $10 million is being redirected to 16 districts in Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Texas, including to Republican incumbents Brian Fitzpatrick, Monica De La Cruz, Rob Wittman and Bill Huizenga. In Iowa, the PAC is moving money from the 1st District to the other two competitive matchups, though a spokeswoman declined to share details.

The latest Fox News Power Rankings show Democrats with the edge in 219 House seats — one more than needed for a majority — with Republicans projected to keep 198 and 19 seats still up in the air.