Hollywood Democrats Pour Money Into Midterms With A Tinge Of Hope And A Lot Of Caution
02.09.2022 - 22:37
/ deadline.com
When a stream of Democratic candidates trek to Los Angeles this month in likely their final effort to raise money before the midterms, they will be met by Hollywood supporters who are less deflated than they once were about the party’s prospects in November: Call them cautious, if maybe a bit more optimistic.
President Joe Biden’s recent legislative wins, coupled with a renewed focus on the chaos of Donald Trump, has given industry Democrats reason to believe that the party won’t face quite the drubbing that they did in the past. The backlash to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, fueling a new wave of activism within the industry, has raised hopes that it will translate into improved turnout, and perhaps even match what is expected on the GOP side.
The victory last week of Pat Ryan in a purple New York congressional district was seen as a bit of a bellwether, as he emphasized the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling and the need to protect a women’s right to choose. And even if retaining the House still seems like a long shot, the chances are better in the Senate, particularly given the missteps of Republican candidates in key races, including Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania, while their Democratic rivals highlight their extreme positions.
In the coming weeks, candidates including Beto O’Rourke, challenging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott; Mandela Barnes, running to unseat Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), seeking an open seat in Ohio, are planning to headline L.A. fundraisers, while administration figures like Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg are expected to help draw donors and supporters to various events. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), facing a tight race for reelection, raised money last week at an