Democratic Super PAC Going After Bilbray with $1.2M Ad Buy

A national political action committee that supports Democratic congressional candidates announced Thursday it is reserving $1.2 million of broadcast airtime in an effort to unseat Republican Rep. Brian Bilbray in November.

The 52nd Congressional District seat Bilbray is seeking was redrawn to cover Poway and Rancho Bernardo, and drifts southwest to take in Coronado and La Jolla.

Bilbray, who faces Port of San Diego Commissioner Scott Peters, has been targeted unsuccessfully by Democrats for years, but party officials feel like they have a good chance this November because his district was shifted around during the redistricting process. Bilbray’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But his latest FEC filings indicate he has almost $780,000 cash on hand and raised a net $1.1 million.

The House Majority PAC, which formed in April 2011, says it is spending $2.5 million in six markets to target Republican office-holders. The list includes $285,000 in an effort to unseat Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs.

The advertising buys are in addition to $20 million announced last month in 38 other markets, in conjunction with the Service Employees International Union.

“House Majority PAC continues to expand its fall paid media campaign to educate voters nationwide about House Republicans’ and GOP candidates’ extreme agenda and misguided priorities,” said Alixandria Lapp, executive director of the super PAC.

“Whether it’s supporting plans to end Medicare as we know it, protect tax loopholes for companies that ship American jobs overseas or cut millionaires’ taxes even more, these Republicans are out of touch and House Majority PAC will hold them accountable.”

According to the Washington Post, the House Majority PAC’s counterpart that backs GOP candidates has yet to reserve fall airtime for House races.

—City News Service contributed to this report.