Republicans scored an enormous win in Pennsylvania on Tuesday when Rob Bresnahan picked off Rep. Matt Cartwright, Choice Desk HQ tasks, denying the Democratic incumbent a seventh time period within the northeastern nook of the Keystone State.
Cartwright was amongst simply 5 sitting Democrats working for reelection in districts gained by Donald Trump in 2020. And with Trump again on the highest of the ticket, he was a serious goal of GOP operatives, who sought to achieve voters within the blue-collar district by attacking the Biden administration’s insurance policies on the economic system and immigration.
Bresnahan, a neighborhood enterprise proprietor, led the cost, focusing his message on linking Cartwright to the excessive inflation that hit the nation onerous throughout and after the COVID-19 pandemic — a development Republicans have blamed on the financial insurance policies of President Biden and Democrats.
Bresnahan additionally centered sharply on border safety — one other subject the place Democrats have been susceptible following a surge in migration on the southern border.
Cartwright was additionally one of many few downballot Democrats who might need been harmed, fairly than helped, by Biden’s choice to drop off the presidential ticket this 12 months. That’s as a result of the eighth District contains town of Scranton, Biden’s hometown, the place many citizens nonetheless have a soft-spot for his or her well-known native son.
Cartwright was the far more formidable fundraiser all through the cycle, hauling in additional than $8 million, versus Bresnahan’s $3.3 million, in line with Open Secrets and techniques. However outdoors teams helped degree the taking part in subject, dumping $11 million into the race on behalf of the GOP challenger, versus $9.1 million for Cartwright.
