Republican Voters Against Trump Pours $11.5 Million into Key Battlegrounds to Sway the Election

By: Sam Watanuki | Published: Sep 05, 2024

Republican Voters Against Trump, led by Sarah Longwell, has just launched its largest ad buy of this election cycle.

The group is spending $11.5 million to influence voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona. Their mission? To sway undecided Republicans and conservative-leaning independents away from former President Donald Trump.

The Group's Strategic Focus

The ad buy specifically targets voters in conservative strongholds that could swing the election. With $4.5 million invested in Pennsylvania alone, the group is banking on flipping Republican votes in areas where Trump’s support was once solid.

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Old school TV

Source: Huỳnh Đạt/Pexels

By focusing on voters who remain undecided, Republican Voters Against Trump hopes to make a big impact in these battlegrounds.

The Voter Focus

The group isn’t just targeting any voters—they are specifically honing in on conservative-leaning independents and Republicans who feel uneasy about another Trump term.

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A person wearing a blue mask leaning over a table voting on a ballot

Source: Phil Roeder/Flickr

Through TV ads, billboards, and online campaigns, Republican Voters Against Trump wants to give these voters permission to vote for a Democrat without betraying their core values.

Why the Focus on Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania is a critical battleground state where both the Trump and Harris campaigns are investing heavily. The state’s diverse electorate and its 20 electoral votes make it a prime target.

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Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

Source: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

The group has spent $4.5 million here, hoping to tip the scales in favor of Kamala Harris by focusing on moderate Republican voters.

Michigan: Another Key Target for Republican Voters Against Trump

Michigan, with its 16 electoral votes, is another battleground state getting significant attention. Republican Voters Against Trump has allocated $3 million to ads in Michigan, where polling shows Harris leading Trump by a slim margin.

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Trump National Doral Golf Club on July 09, 2024 in Doral, Florida. Trump continues to campaign across the country

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The ads here focus on former Trump voters who have become disillusioned with his presidency, encouraging them to consider Harris.

The Impact of Wisconsin's 10 Electoral Votes

Wisconsin is another state in the crosshairs of this ad campaign, with $2.2 million being spent to sway voters. Harris has a slight lead in the state, but the race remains close.

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at sunset. The city has a lot of high-rise buildings.

Source: Tom Barrett/Unsplash

Republican Voters Against Trump is banking on peeling off just enough votes to give Harris the edge in a state that Trump won in 2016 by less than 1% of the vote.

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Arizona: A Nail-Biter Election

In Arizona, Republican Voters Against Trump has allocated $1.5 million to reach undecided Republicans.

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An Arizona welcome sign on the side of a road, seen in the daytime.

Source: Anna Sullivan/Unsplash

The group is hoping to leverage shifting demographics in the state, where Harris holds a narrow lead of just 0.1%.

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Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in the Spotlight

Republican Voters Against Trump is also targeting Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, investing $375,000 in the effort.

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable on the economy and tax reform

Source: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

This district, which includes the growing Omaha metropolitan area, awards an electoral vote independently of the rest of the state, making it a potentially decisive vote. With Harris expected to win the district, every bit of momentum counts.

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The Power of Testimonials

One of the most impactful aspects of the ad campaign is the use of testimonials from former Trump voters.

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Digital illustration of the Republican elephant

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These voters, who now plan to vote for Kamala Harris, feature in a 30-second TV ad that has been airing in all targeted states. The message is clear: even lifelong Republicans are reconsidering their vote in this high-stakes election.

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Harris' Play for GOP Votes

While Republican Voters Against Trump is working independently, their efforts align with the Harris campaign’s strategy to court disaffected Republicans.

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A photograph of Kamala Harris

Source: Wikimedia

Harris launched her own “Republican Voters for Harris” initiative, garnering more than 25 GOP endorsements, including former Republican lawmakers and even members of Trump’s own administration.

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Key Republican Endorsements for Harris

Over 200 former GOP staffers, who worked for past Republican nominees like George W. Bush and John McCain, have endorsed Harris. These Republicans cite their deep ideological differences with Trump as the reason for their support.

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Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally

Source: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

In a letter, they describe Trump’s pandemic response and felony convictions as “simply untenable,” choosing to vote for Harris despite policy disagreements.

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Polling Shows Harris Gaining Ground

As the election draws nearer, polls indicate that Harris is gaining ground on Trump in key states. According to recent polling averages, Harris leads Trump nationally and holds narrow leads in swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona.

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A split photo of Kamala Harris wearing a blue suit and Donald Trump wearing a black suit with a red tie

Source: @USA_Polling/X

With the support of Republican Voters Against Trump, Harris’ campaign is hoping to widen that gap.

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