Republican-allied groups are withdrawing money earmarked to target Cincinnati Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Landsman is running for reelection against Republican Eric Conroy in Ohio's 1st District, which includes Clinton County, Warren County and parts of Hamilton County.
The district leans more Republican than in previous elections, after state Republicans redrew the congressional maps.
The move could signal that Republican-leaning groups are giving up efforts to flip the seat, even though it leans about 52% Republican, according to calculations by Dave's Redistricting.
District had been on GOP target list
Both national Democrats and Republicans highlighted Ohio's 1st District as key to the balance of power in Congress. Landsman's
seat is one of 36 Democrat-held seats the National Republican Congressional Committee was targeting. Swing Left, a nonprofit organization that supports Democrats running for office, has identified the district as one of 16 "must-hold" districts.
The New York Times reported that Republicans are moving funds away from targeting Landsman and Michigan Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in favor of 16 new districts. The Times cited "three people with direct knowledge."
Conroy campaign manager: 'This race will be competitive'
Conroy's campaign manager Collin Wojcik said in a statement to The Enquirer that "in a tough cycle, party committees and their super PACs are focused on protecting incumbents."
Wojcik said last week a super PAC that backed Conroy in the primary disclosed another $1 million in spending to promote him.
"With an outsider and true public servant running against Greg Landsman, an incumbent who is too liberal and too corrupt for this district, this race will be competitive until the last vote is counted," Wojcik said.
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X and @eringlynn on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: National GOP groups moving money from Cincinnati-area race, reports say
