Bloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has quietly reserved more than $30 million in television advertising for Democratic candidates in swing districts in the two weeks before next month’s midterm elections.

The advertising spending, described by several sources watching the television marketplace, comes through Bloomberg’s Independence USA PAC.

Bloomberg pledged to spend at least $80 million helping Democrats reclaim control of the House — a sign, some believed, that the billionaire businessman might try to run for the party’s presidential nomination.

But Democratic strategists privately complained that they had not seen the money actually flow into campaigns, even as conservative billionaire Sheldon Adelson cut his own eight-figure checks to the most prominent Republican super PAC battling for control of the House.

Now, Bloomberg’s cash is beginning to flow.

About a third of the total spending is coming against two California Republicans who find themselves facing tough Democratic challengers for the first time in years. Bloomberg’s PAC has reserved more than $4.1 million in airtime against both Reps. Steve Knight (R) and Dana RohrabacherDana Tyrone RohrabacherElection Countdown: Latest glimpse at fundraising highlights Dem edge | Cook moves Menendez race to toss up | Heated Missouri Senate debate | O’Rourke scrambling to win Latino voters | Bloomberg spending big for Dem candidates | DNC talks 2020 debates Bloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Bloomberg spending million to help two House Dems in California MORE (R), who hold districts covered by the Los Angeles media market.

Independence USA Pac will spend nearly $3 million on behalf of pediatrician Kim Schrier (D), who faces former state Sen. Dino Rossi (R) in a fiercely contested battle for a Republican-held seat whose residents voted for Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillary Clinton leaves door open for 2020 run: ‘I’d like to be president’ Trump points finger at media for ‘division and hatred’ plaguing US Lawmakers seek to quell partisan tensions after week of violence MORE in 2016, just outside of Seattle.

The group also reserved $2.5 million in airtime in the Las Vegas media market, where former Reps. Steven HorsfordSteven Alexander HorsfordBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads The Hill’s Morning Report — Presented by the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs — Trump, Obama head to swing states with Senate majority in balance Republicans cancel airtime in swing Vegas district MORE (D) and Cresent Hardy (R) are fighting to reclaim their old job. And it will spend $1.9 million on behalf of state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D), who appears likely to oust Rep. Barbara ComstockBarbara Jean ComstockElection Countdown: Latest glimpse at fundraising highlights Dem edge | Cook moves Menendez race to toss up | Heated Missouri Senate debate | O’Rourke scrambling to win Latino voters | Bloomberg spending big for Dem candidates | DNC talks 2020 debates Bloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Election Countdown: Candidates clash in fiery Florida gov debate | Trump fights uphill midterm battle on health care | Vulnerable Republicans follow Trump on immigration | Takeaways from only NJ Senate debate | Dallas Morning News endorses O’Rourke MORE (R) in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

Many of Bloomberg’s other targets are familiar denizens of the toss-up category, including Reps. Carlos CurbeloCarlos Luis CurbeloBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Florida GOP lawmaker received death threat on social media, office says Vulnerable Republicans follow Trump’s lead on immigration MORE (R-Fla.), Peter Roskam Peter James RoskamBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Environmental groups shift strategies to win support for candidates in midterms Dems target small cluster of states in battle for House MORE (R-Ill.), Kevin YoderKevin Wayne YoderBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Environmental groups shift strategies to win support for candidates in midterms Small-dollar donations explode in the Trump era MORE (R-Kan.), Mike Bishop (R-Mich.), Erik PaulsenErik Philip PaulsenBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Paul Ryan to campaign for 25 vulnerable House Republicans How America’s urban-rural divide is changing the Democratic Party MORE (R-Minn.), Jason LewisJason Mark LewisBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads The Hill’s Morning Report — Presented by PhRMA — Worries grow about political violence as midterms approach GOP lawmaker once belittled sexual harassment: ‘How traumatizing was it?’ MORE (R-Minn.) and John CulbersonJohn Abney CulbersonBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Election Countdown: Takeaways from heated Florida governor’s debate | DNC chief pushes back on ‘blue wave’ talk | Manchin faces progressive backlash | Trump heads to Houston rally | Obama in Las Vegas | Signs of huge midterm turnout O’Rourke’s rise raises hopes for Texas Dems down ballot MORE (R-Texas).

Bloomberg is aiming to help Democratic candidates in open seats currently held by Reps. Darrell IssaDarrell Edward IssaElection Countdown: Latest glimpse at fundraising highlights Dem edge | Cook moves Menendez race to toss up | Heated Missouri Senate debate | O’Rourke scrambling to win Latino voters | Bloomberg spending big for Dem candidates | DNC talks 2020 debates Bloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Election Countdown: Candidates clash in fiery Florida gov debate | Trump fights uphill midterm battle on health care | Vulnerable Republicans follow Trump on immigration | Takeaways from only NJ Senate debate | Dallas Morning News endorses O’Rourke MORE (R-Calif.), Lynn JenkinsLynn Haag JenkinsBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads House battlefield expands as ad wars hit new peak Sentencing reform is critical for youth in the justice system MORE (R-Kan.) and David Trott (R-Mich.).

But Bloomberg’s PAC is also looking a little farther afield, apparently in hopes of expanding the battlefield into some unlikely territory.

The PAC has reserved airtime in Washington’s 3rd District, where Rep. Jaime Herrera BeutlerJaime Lynn Herrera BeutlerBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Washington’s Dem governor invites Trump to come campaign for GOP candidates Dems see wider path to House after tight Ohio race MORE (R) is seeking her fourth term. She faces Carolyn Long, a college professor, in a district President TrumpDonald John TrumpHillary Clinton leaves door open for 2020 run: ‘I’d like to be president’ Protesters unveil pro-trans banner at World Series Trump congratulates Brazil’s Bolsonaro on presidential win MORE won by 7 points in 2016. A Siena College poll conducted for The New York Times last week showed Herrera Beutler leading Long 48 percent to 41 percent.

Bloomberg will also spend nearly half a million dollars in Georgia’s 6th District, a suburban Atlanta area that was the epicenter of a hotly contested special election last year in which Democrat Jon Ossoff raised tens of millions of dollars in an ultimately unsuccessful bid against Rep. Karen HandelKaren Christine HandelBloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Election Countdown: Two weeks to midterms | Hollywood donors flood Dems with cash | Trump camp to spend over M on midterms | Biden rallies Florida Dems | What to watch in Georgia gov debate Poll: Handel leads Dem challenger by 4 points in Georgia House race MORE (R).

Handel now faces Lucy McBath, a businesswoman and gun control activist — an issue near to Bloomberg’s heart. The only public poll in the race, conducted last week, shows Handel leading by just 4 percentage points.

And Bloomberg even hopes to fill the conservative district once held by former Rep. Ron DeSantisRonald Dion DeSantis Gloves come off as Gillum, DeSantis enter final days of Florida race Bloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads White House worried about GOP chances in key Florida races: report MORE (R), who quit his seat to focus on his run for governor of Florida. The Independence USA PAC has reserved nearly $1.3 million on behalf of Nancy Soderberg, a high-ranking official on Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonHillary Clinton leaves door open for 2020 run: ‘I’d like to be president’ Bloomberg quietly spends millions in TV ads Graham: I’m not going to blame Trump for ‘nut job’ who sent bombs to Dems MORE’s National Security Council.

Soderberg faces an uphill bid against Mike Waltz, a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, in a district that went for President Trump by nearly 20 points. So far, the vast majority of the outside spending in the race has come on Waltz’s behalf, from Bloomberg’s old foe, the National Rifle Association.

The PAC’s spending is being reported to the Federal Election Commission by its treasurer, Howard Wolfson. Wolfson did not respond to a request for comment Friday morning.

Independence USA PAC has already spent more than $19 million on advertising backing Democratic candidates in the last month, reports that include some of the current buys.

The remaining buys that have yet to be reported will vault that total north of $35 million, making Bloomberg a more prominent player in the 2018 midterm elections than all but eight other outside groups, according to a running tally maintained by Political MoneyLine.