House Republicans target vulnerable Democrats in convention advertising

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is targeting a handful of vulnerable House Democrats with a mobile billboard outside the Democratic National Convention, which begins Monday in Chicago. 

Photos of five Democrats who are expected to skip the party event will appear alongside the words “Have You Seen Me?” as the House Republicans' campaign arm works to tie the lawmakers to Vice President Harris, despite their anticipated absence.

The billboard will knock Reps. Yadira Caraveo (Colo.), Matt Cartwright (Pa.), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) and Jared Golden (Maine) – all of whom are in races rated “toss ups” by the Cook Political report. Rep. Mary Peltola (Alaska), whose race is “lean Democrat,” will also be highlighted. 

"These swing-district Democrat frauds want to pretend like they won't be enablers of San Francisco liberal Kamala Harris' dangerous agenda if reelected," NRCC Communications Director Jack Pandol said in a release. "Yet despite not being in Chicago, they support everything Kamala Harris stands for with their voting records.”

The Hill has reached out to the Democrats' House campaign arm for comment.

Thousands are descending on Chicago this week for the Democratic convention amid a surge of energy around Harris’s bid after President Biden’s historic exit from the 2024 race.

Still, some vulnerable incumbents in both the House and Senate are keeping Harris at arm’s length as they seek reelection in critical districts and states that tend toward former President Trump. 

Democratic Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Jacky Rosen (Nev.), who are all facing tough challenges, are planning to skip the Chicago convention. Tester and Brown represent states that Trump is expected to win this fall, while Rosen represents one of the seven battleground states likely to decide the presidential election.

Majorities in the House and Senate are also both on a razor's edge in the fall elections.

Biden, Harris and a slate of other top Democratic figures are set to address delegates at the four-day convention this week.