ICYMI: DSCC Launches Digital Ads, Hosts Virtual Press Conference Calling Out Senators Johnson & Rubio For Voting Against American Rescue Plan

Democrats Hold Vulnerable Republican Incumbents Accountable For Opposing Urgently Needed COVID Relief With Broad, Bipartisan Support From Voters In Their States

Following the Senate’s historic vote passing the American Rescue Plan, the DSCC launched new digital ads and hosted a virtual press conference to hold vulnerable GOP incumbents Ron Johnson and Marco Rubio accountable for voting against the bill and trying to block urgently needed relief for families and communities struggling to get through this pandemic. While Democrats worked tirelessly to deliver this package, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are facing backlash for unanimously opposing an overwhelmingly popular plan that provides $1,400 direct relief checks, resources to increase access to vaccines, local funding to help schools safely reopen, and emergency assistance for small businesses and restaurants.

Johnson is facing increased scrutiny for his “outspoken opposition” to the rescue plan after he proudly declared last week that he would oppose even “even a dime more” in COVID-19 relief spending, while Rubio stood idly by and helped his party leaders hold up this urgently needed relief that has earned “broad, bipartisan support.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Roll Call: Democrats target Johnson, Rubio for votes against COVID-19 relief package

• The campaign arm of Senate Democrats is launching its first ads of the 2022 cycle with new digital spots targeting two Republicans for voting against the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that passed the chamber Saturday along party lines.

• The 30-second videos on YouTube, shared first with CQ Roll Call, knock Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Marco Rubio of Florida and are part of a “five-figure” digital effort by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

• The ads are an early sign that Democrats view the relief package as a salient campaign issue, with recent national polls showing that the bill is popular. For example, some 62 percent of Americans supported the measure, according to a Feb. 25 to March 1 Monmouth University poll. And 78 percent supported the $1,400 payments, a Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 Qunnipiac University poll found.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats eager to unseat Ron Johnson flag his outspoken opposition to COVID relief plan

• During a virtual press conference Monday, the state and national chairs of the Democratic Party excoriated Johnson’s “no” vote and his procedural role in delaying the bill, which is expected to pass the House this week.

• Democratic National Chair Jaime Harrison called Johnson’s delaying tactic a “purely political stunt.”

• Wisconsin Democratic chair Ben Wikler said that “by doing everything in his power to block urgently needed relief for Wisconsin families, Senator Ron Johnson has earned the title of the number one opponent of middle-class and working-class relief.”

• But Johnson, in his second term, has embraced his role as one of the bill’s most outspoken critics, calling it a “monstrosity” and single-handedly delaying its passage by forcing an 11-hour reading of legislation he said was being jammed through Congress.  

• Republican lawmakers who voted against it “are going to be held accountable next year come election time,” Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, asserted during Monday’s press call. 

Florida Politics: Senate Democratic campaign arm slams Marco Rubio for vote against COVID-19 relief bill

• The U.S. Senate on Saturday approved the American Rescue Plan: a $1.9 trillion package targeted toward COVID-19 relief and various forms of economic stimulus, without a single Republican vote.

• The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is rolling out what it calls a five-figure buy on YouTube targeting at least one of those Senators, a Florida Republican up for reelection in 2022.

• The 30-second spot highlights the vote from second-term Sen. Marco Rubio “against COVID-19 relief.” Against a tense instrumental background and devoid of narration, the creative speaks in graphics, closing with an assertion that seven of 10 voters support the Democratic relief plan and positing the question: “Why won’t Marco Rubio stand up for us?”

Florida Politics: Democrats chide Marco Rubio, Rick Scott for virus stimulus ‘no’ vote

• On Monday, national and state Democratic leaders slammed Republicans, including Florida’s two United States Senators, for voting against the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act passed by the Senate along a party line vote this weekend.

• Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said Republicans in Congress opposed the bill, singling out both of Florida’s Senators for special mention.

• “(Marco) Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott sat idly by and it wasn’t just them. Every single Republican in the House and the Senate voted against the bill,” Harrison said.

• Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz offered a similar take.

• “Once again, Sens. Rubio and Scott have refused to put the people first,” said the new chair of the state party.

• Rubio and Scott, he added, “put partisan needs over the needs of Floridians.”

• DSCC Chair Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan followed up on that creative on the call, saying “the fact that we did not receive any Republican votes is confounding.”

• Peters called the bill a “broad, bipartisan bill,” pointing to polls that show even Republican voters back the measure.

• Republican legislators are “out of touch” and “will be held accountable come election time” for “having turned their backs on people back home,” the Senator pledged.

• “They’re going to have to explain,” Peters said, why they voted against relief. “This is a major piece of legislation that will get our country back on our feet as we continue to deliver vaccines.”

• “It’s important for us to sell it,” Harrison said. And the Democrats are doing just that.

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