Wisconsin ad targets Van Orden

A Democratic ad in Wisconsin says Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted for the costly Iran war and spiking gas prices, adding to rising costs for groceries and utilities.

“groceries, utilities, everything's getting more expensive and Congressman (Derrick) Van Orden is adding to the list. He voted for the costly Iran war and spiking gas prices.”

Nebraska ad blames Flood for tariffs

Democratic candidate Chris Backemeyer says Mike Flood voted six times for Trump's tariffs and the Iran war, costing families a thousand dollars more a year on groceries, gas, cars and medicine.

“Flood voted six times for Trump's tariffs and the Iran war, flooding us with higher prices on groceries, gas, cars and medicine, costing us a thousand dollars more a year.”

Iowa group targets Hinson's votes

Vote Vets Action Fund says Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson voted five times for the Iran war, giving voters record prices for gas and fertilizer.

“voted five times for the Iran war, "giving us record prices for gas and fertilizer."”

Democrats' spring strategy pays off

Democrats launched a spring strategy bringing up war powers resolutions to force lawmakers on record. Now those votes are highlighted in campaign ads across competitive races nationwide.

Ads target non-incumbents too

Some Republicans targeted in ads never served in Congress, so they could not have voted on war powers resolutions. Democrats portray them as destined to be rubber stamps for President Donald Trump.

Iran ads dominate competitive races

From September first through October fourteenth, Iran-related ads aired over forty-three thousand times in competitive races, costing an estimated forty-two million dollars. At least half of fifty races featured Iran-related ads.

Cost of living ties Iran to wallets

Of sixty-five unique Iran-themed ads identified, sixty-one stressed household cost-of-living messages such as rising prices for fuel and other items, linking the war directly to family budgets.

Republicans focus on taxes and crime

Republicans largely ignore the Iran war in their ads. Republican strategist Ron Bonjean says talking about Iran is not a winning message because voters are playing on Democratic turf.

“talking about the Iran war is really not a winning message because you're playing on the Democratic turf.”

California district leads in Iran ads

California's forty-eighth Congressional District in San Diego has the highest concentration of Iran ads, roughly a third of twelve thousand aired spots. Democrat Marni von Wilpert quotes Republican Jim Desmond's "no pain, no gain" remark.

“"No pain, no gain?" asks an ad from Democratic candidate Marni von Wilpert. "Tell that to a family filling up their gas tank."”