Senate Democrats Aim to Link Cruz, Scott to Looming Shutdown
- DSCC spending five figures on Google ads amid GOP infighting
- The two senators are most likely to face competitive races
Bloomberg Government subscribers get the stories like this first. Act now and gain unlimited access to everything you need to know. Learn more.
Senate Democrats’ campaign arm said Friday it is running digital advertisements preemptively blaming two high-profile Republicans senators up for re-election next year for a potential government shutdown early next month.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it will spend at least $10,000 to promote links in Google search results to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rick Scott’s (R-Fla.) comments praising the House Freedom Caucus’s pursuit of spending cuts and warning a shutdown would put “Social Security at Risk.”
Cruz and Scott are viewed as Republicans’ most vulnerable incumbent senators in the 2024 elections, though the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates both as “Likely Republican” wins.
Social Security payments continue to go out in event of a funding lapse, but a shutdown could slow the processing of new claims.
The DSCC said the ads are targeted to senior voters in Florida and in Austin, Texas, where Cruz is scheduled to speak at the Texas Tribune Festival this weekend.
“Cruz and Scott’s government shutdown would be devastating: raising costs on hardworking families and small businesses while threatening vital programs like Social Security,” said DSCC spokesperson Tommy Garcia. “Cruz and Scott have once again put their petty politics over the best interests of their state – and they’ve given voters another reason to fire them in 2024.”
Cruz last week pinned the blame on any funding lapse on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and President Joe Biden, who he said are incentivized to let the government shut down if the public faults Republicans.
“I don’t think we should have a shutdown, but I agree with you it’s very likely,” Cruz said in an interview on Bloomberg TV’s “Balance of Power” last Friday.
To contact the reporter on this story: Zach C. Cohen in Washington at zcohen@bloombergindustry.com
To contact the editors responsible for this story: George Cahlink at gcahlink@bloombergindustry.com; Bennett Roth at broth@bgov.com
Stay informed with more news like this – from the largest team of reporters on Capitol Hill – subscribe to Bloomberg Government today. Learn more.