Majority of Swing Voters In 65 Battleground House Districts Say MAGA Republicans’ Vote For Default On America Act Makes Them “Less Favorable” 

59% Have “Major Concerns” About Members Who Voted For Cuts To Veterans, Education, Cancer Research

Poll Memo: “The biggest losers in the default fight, by far, are the House Republicans who will be running for reelection in districts won by President Biden…Speaker McCarthy forced his most vulnerable members to walk the plank in voting for this extreme MAGA legislation…”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new polling memo released today by Courage for America, CAP Action, and House Majority PAC lays out how damaging McCarthy and MAGA Republicans’ Default on America Act will be for Republicans in key swing districts next year. The memo also highlights that the deal struck by President Biden and Democratic members gives Democratic members a valuable shield against spending attacks they could face during a reelection bid.

The poll, conducted by Hart Research across 65 House battleground districts, finds that 59 percent of voters say they have “major concerns” about House Republicans following their willingness to force massive cuts to healthcare, education, cancer research, and environmental projections or push the country into a major economic crisis. Additionally, 23 percent of voters who have plans to vote Republican in 2024 say the vote on the Default on America Act makes them less favorable to House Republicans. 

“Speaker McCarthy forced his most vulnerable members to walk the plank in voting for this extreme MAGA legislation, and then got almost none of it enacted into law,” pollster Geoff Garin lays out. “This is a vote that will come back to haunt Republican incumbents next year. Indeed, it would be political malpractice if Democratic campaigns did not hold Republicans accountable for supporting this dangerous and extreme legislation.”

The polling memo comes as Courage for America launches a new campaign to hold House Republicans accountable for their willingness to enact massive cuts or send the country into default. A digital ad by CFA began running earlier this week in four key districts, CA-13 (Duarte), VA-02 (Kiggans), NY-19 (Molinaro), and NY-22 (Williams), with additional efforts planned.

To learn more about the campaign, visit CourageforAmerica.org or contact [email protected]. 

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Ad Marks Start of New Campaign to Hold MAGA House Accountable For The Cuts to Hard-Earned Benefits They Voted For

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Courage for America released a new digital ad campaign warning four vulnerable MAGA House Republicans that their votes for the Default on America Act and their role in bringing the country close to a default will not be forgotten.

The ad, which targets Rep. John Duarte (CA-13), Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02), Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and Rep. Brandon Williams (NY-22), calls out these Republicans for their blatant disregard for the country’s economic future and callous willingness to cut funding for veterans’ benefits, law enforcement, and education. The ad campaign marks the start of a new focus by Courage for America to hold House Republicans accountable and ensure no constituents forget the devastating outcomes their Republican representative supported.

The ad’s onscreen text reads:
McCarthy and MAGA Republicans voted for cuts.
Cuts to veterans’ benefits, law enforcement, and education
And though President Biden stopped them
We will not forget that they chose billionaires and corporations over hard working Americans.
Tell MAGA Republicans we won’t forget.

“America avoided a catastrophic default forced upon us by MAGA Republicans only by the skin of our teeth. Republicans in the House knowingly created an impossible choice: accept their devastating cuts to veterans’ healthcare and Medicaid or accept an unprecedented default that would disrupt Social Security and Medicare. Their willingness to hurt American families in order to jam through their extreme agenda cannot be swept under the rug just because their plan was thwarted at the last minute by President Biden riding to the rescue.” said Zac Petkanas, senior advisor to the House Accountability War Room. “We have only just begun ensuring Americans never forget the veterans, police, and seniors that House Republicans tried to throw under the bus.”

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].
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MAGA Republicans Pushed the US to the Brink of Disaster. Constituents Won’t Forget Who Chose Extremism Over Communities. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Laura Packard, Courage for America spokesperson and executive director of Health Care Voter, released the following statement in response to the passage of the Debt Ceiling Bill:

“This week, the country was spared a devastating economic crisis that was forced upon the U.S. by MAGA Republicans. The impossible choice that McCarthy’s Default on America Act laid out – face extreme cuts to hard-earned benefits and critical services or push the country into an unprecedented default – was avoided only because of the hard work of those representing the interests of their constituents rather than playing politics with them.

“The extremism of every Republican who voted for the Default on America Act and chose to play politics with Americans’ livelihoods will not be swept under the rug just because disaster was avoided by the skin of our teeth. MAGA Republicans showed their true colors when they stood by McCarthy’s plans to tank our country’s economy to secure devastating cuts to Social Security, health care, and veteran benefits. Constituents will hold these Republicans accountable.”

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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Whip Katherine Clark: “[MAGA Republicans] manufactured a crisis so they could bully and threaten the very people they were sent to Washington to represent” 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, key members of House Democratic leadership joined Courage for America and advocates from across the country to demand that the MAGA House answer for threatening a catastrophic default unless Congress slashes critical healthcare, veterans’ benefits, law enforcement, and education funding. Speakers included Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA), DPCC Chair Joe Neguse (D-CO), Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), Mayor Santos Garcia (Madera, CA), veterans, and constituents of Republican members from four competitive districts — VA-02 (Kiggans), CA-13 (Duarte), NY-19 (Molinaro), and NY-22 (Williams).

“The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the so-called Republican moderates who voted for the Default on America Act,” said Chairman Aguilar. “They had a choice — they could have voted with the American people to protect seniors and veterans and school teachers, but instead, they joined hands with Marjorie Taylor Green and George Santos to impose devastating cuts.”

The press conference is part of a growing pressure campaign from Courage for America and others to hold Speaker McCarthy and the MAGA House accountable for the default crisis.

WATCH FULL EVENT HERE

EVENT PHOTOS HERE

(All images free for use with credit to Courage for America)

Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) speaks at Courage for America’s “MAGA’s Fault if We Default” press conference at the Capitol

Mayor Santos Garcia of Madera, CA calls out his representative, Congressman John Duarte (R-CA), for backing the MAGA default plan and holding Americans’ benefits hostage

Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) speaks at Courage for America’s “MAGA’s Fault if We Default” press conference at the Capitol

Mayor Santos Garcia (Madera, California): 
“I am asking Congress to pass an agreement in a bipartisan fashion so we do not affect the people of my district and across the United States. Because what happens in Madera affects us all throughout the United States.”

Maurice Hawkins, Air Force veteran and constituent of Rep. Kiggans (VA-02): 
“How a member of Congress votes is a reflection of their values. And with Congresswoman Kiggans voting for the Default on America Act, she is saying she doesn’t value the veterans and military families of this great nation.”

Corporal Brandon Rumbaugh, Marine veteran and advocate:
“Instead of adding more money to these [veteran support] programs, we’re going to take them away. And in my opinion, that is one of the most selfish and detrimental things we can do — not only to our veterans but to our country.”

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA): 
“This is about ideology versus responsibility; this is about politics versus people; this is about extremism versus common sense. The MAGA Republicans want the American people to make an impossible choice: accept devastating cuts or a devastating default. They manufactured a crisis so they could bully and threaten the very people they were sent to Washington to represent.”

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].
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Second VA-02 TV ad part of six figure buy calling out Rep. Kiggans (VA-02) for pushing for default unless Congress cuts veterans healthcare, law enforcement

Ad comes as Kiggans constituents travel to Capitol Hill for “Your Fault If We Default” Lobby Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Courage for America announced the launch of its second television ad in Virginia’s second Congressional district, which denounces Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02) for undermining key public safety measures and gutting veterans’ benefits by voting for McCarthy’s disastrous Default on America Act.

The ad features Maurice, a veteran of the United States Air Force and the son of a law enforcement officer, who calls on his fellow constituents of Rep. Kiggans to tell her that, “the safety of our communities is more important than tax cuts for billionaires.” The ad is the second ad from Courage for America featuring a veteran constituent of the Congresswoman calling out Kiggans’ craven political gamesmanship, which together represent a seven-figure ad buy by the organization.

Maurice and 30+ other constituents from VA-02, NY-19, NY-22, CA-13, and other Republican-held Congressional districts will join Courage for America in DC tomorrow, May 23rd, for a national “Your Fault if We Default” press conference and lobby day. Press can RSVP here for the Capitol Hill press conference at 11:30am ET.

“It is shameful that Congresswoman Kiggans is threatening a devastating default if she can’t ram through her extreme MAGA agenda that includes deep cuts to veterans’ health care, law enforcement, and more.” said Naveed Shah, Courage for America spokesperson and political director for Common Defense. “We should be targeting tax loopholes for the wealthy and big corporations that ship American jobs overseas, not those who serve our country with honor and keep our communities safe. Rep. Kiggans’ irresponsible actions and unreasonable demands make it clear: it will be MAGA’s fault if we default.”

To speak with a Courage for America spokesperson or learn more about coordinated efforts to hold the MAGA House accountable on the default crisis, please email [email protected].

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Veterans, constituents, advocates will fly to DC for the press conference and lobby day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday May 23rd at 11:30am, Courage for America will host a press conference on Capitol Hill with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), DPCC Chair Joe Neguse (D-CO), veterans, and constituents of Republican members from four competitive districts — VA-02 (Kiggans), CA-13 (Duarte), NY-19 (Molinaro), and NY-22 (Williams) — to hold the MAGA House accountable for threatening a catastrophic default crisis in order to slash benefits for veterans, seniors, and children. Constituents from the four Republican-held districts will fly to DC for the press conference and participate in a lobby day with Courage for America.

The press conference and lobby day are part of the group’s “MAGA’s Fault If We Default” campaign, which has included a high-six-figure ad buy encompassing multiple sets of digital and TV ads, a press call with Rep. Gallego and Arizona veterans, a creator program with social media influencers, and a 20-day cross-country bus tour ahead of the release of McCarthy’s default bill.

RSVP FOR “MAGA’S FAULT IF WE DEFAULT” PRESS CONFERENCE 

WHAT: Press conference on the Hill calling out MAGA House for forcing default crisis

WHO:

• Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA)
• DPCC Chair Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• Constituents of Reps. Kiggans, Williams, Duarte, and Molinaro
• Veterans and advocates

WHEN: Tuesday, May 23rd at 11:30am ET (press can arrive beginning at 11am)

WHERE: The U.S. Capitol, RSVP for exact location

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].
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NY Republicans Fall In Line Behind McCarthy to Protect Santos 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Republicans voted in favor of shielding federally-indicted Congressman George Santos (NY-03) from expulsion, putting the political power of their party over the best interests of Santos’s constituents and the country. Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his fellow House Republicans — including every one of Santos’s fellow New York Republicans —  voted for the House Ethics Committee to assume responsibility for Santos’s case, deflecting responsibility and depriving the people of NY-03 of real representation.

“Speaker McCarthy’s choice to shield Rep. Santos from expulsion is a cynical move to retain the votes his fragile majority needs to jam through extreme MAGA agenda items like gutting Medicaid and veterans’ benefits,” said Danielle Hindieh, Courage for America councilmember and Santos constituent. “The constituents of NY-03 have been calling for Speaker McCarthy to hold a vote to expel Santos for months now. His decision to protect Santos, who has admitted to lying to his voters and constituents, is an affront to those of us who are left without real representation in Washington.”

Courage for America has been involved in the fight to hold Santos accountable since December. Our actions have included:

• Partnering with Concerned Citizens of NY-03 to bus nearly 50 of Santos’s constituents from NY-03 to Capitol Hill for a press conference
• Delivering a petition signed by nearly 1,500 constituents calling on Speaker McCarthy and Republican leadership to hold a vote to expel Santos
• Protesting outside Santos’ district office in Queens
• Rallying on the steps of the Nassau County Courthouse

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].
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This morning, Axios released a story highlighting the efforts of Courage for America and other outside groups holding MAGA House members accountable for forcing the country to the brink of a catastrophic national default in order to gut veterans’ benefits and other critical programs Americans rely on.

Read the full story here and find key excerpts below:

Four House Republicans are the targets of a growing pressure campaign using the GOP debt ceiling bill to try to tank vulnerable moderates.

Why it matters: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s fight extends far beyond Washington, with a coalition of outside groups ratcheting up the heat by highlighting the bill’s potential cuts to veterans benefits.
Courage For America (CFA), a Democratic group focused the House of Representatives, is going after Republicans in Virginia, New York, and California.
They released a new TV ad on Tuesday in Rep. Jen Kiggans’ (R-VA.) district featuring one of her constituents who is a retired Coast Guard veteran.
By voting for Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt bill, Rep. Kiggans is “jeopardizing veteran’s health care,” the woman in the ad says.
CFA and others will also host events later this week with veterans and constituents of Republican Rep. John Duarte of California, and Reps. Mark Molinaro and Brandon Williams of New York in their districts.

The big picture: More than half a dozen outside groups are targeting 20+ House Republicans on the issue, Axios has learned, with 7-figure campaigns and hundreds of thousands of organizers.
Dems need to net five U.S. House seats to take back control in 2024.
The debt ceiling showdown gives their party a clear opening to hit the GOP on issues that typically help them appeal to voters: Veterans, policing, and border security.

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].
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NY Republicans Faced with Choosing Extreme MAGA Agenda or New Yorkers’ Best Interests 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) introduced a resolution to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was recently charged with over a dozen federal crimes including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. This vote will force House Republicans, especially those representing other New York districts, to choose between shielding Santos from accountability to further their extreme MAGA agenda or listening to the pleas of Santos’ constituents who are calling for the House to vote to expel Rep. Santos and give them a chance for real representation in Washington.

“This resolution to expel Rep. George Santos is long overdue, but it is a critical step forward in finally holding him accountable for lying to his voters and constituents,” said Danielle Hindieh, Courage for America councilmember and Santos constituent. “Our district will be paying close attention to the votes of other members of the New York delegation: will they support the best interests of their fellow New Yorkers, or will they protect the MAGA House majority that counts on Santos’ vote to help pass a national abortion ban and cut Social Security?”

Courage for America has previously called on Speaker McCarthy to hold a vote to expel Rep. Santos and will be working with national and local groups including Empire State Voices to mobilize New Yorkers to demand accountability. In February, Courage for America and Concerned Citizens of NY-03 brought nearly 50 of Santos’s constituents from NY-03 to Capitol Hill, where the group held a press conference and delivered a petition signed by nearly 1,500 constituents calling on Speaker McCarthy and Republican leadership to hold a vote to expel Santos from the chamber. The campaign has also protested outside Santos’ district office in Queens and rallied on the steps of the Nassau County Courthouse.

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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Two Weeks From Potential MAGA Default, McCarthy Demands Cuts To Veterans’, Seniors’, Children’s Benefits While Protecting Tax Breaks For Billionaires, Corporations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Biden will once again meet with congressional leaders at the White House as Speaker McCarthy continues threatening a devastating default if his extreme demands aren’t met.

In response to the meeting, Laura Packard, Courage for America spokesperson and executive director of Health Care Voter, issued the following statement:

“Every day, Speaker McCarthy and MAGA House members are pushing the country closer to the brink of a catastrophic default that would disrupt Social Security and Medicare and raise interest rates on car, mortgage and credit card payments. Their demands to gut hard-earned benefits that keep seniors, veterans, and children afloat while protecting tax loopholes benefiting billionaires and giant corporations are outrageous. Americans — especially the veterans bearing the brunt of the MAGA attacks on their live-saving health care — need McCarthy to end his harmful partisan power trip and stop blocking legislation to avoid default.”

Courage for America has been a consistent leader in the fight to hold MAGA Republicans accountable for using the default crisis as an excuse to cut Americans’ benefits. Our default crisis accountability campaign has included:

• A TV ad in VA-02 targeting Rep. Jen Kiggans for voting to slash veterans’ benefits.
• A press call with Rep. Gallego and Arizona veterans condemning the MAGA default bill’s cuts to veterans’ benefits
• Digital ads in eight Republican-held districts slamming the bill for cutting law enforcement funding
• A press call with Officer Michael Fanone and Sheriff Mark Brave condemning cuts to law enforcement funding.
• A 20-day cross-country bus tour ahead of the release of McCarthy’s default bill, calling on House Republicans to promise their constituents they will not cut essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP.

Facts About McCarthy’s Demands From The MAGA Default On America Act: 

• Threatens 22% cuts to education, veterans’ health care, child care, and opioids treatment.
• Endangers public safety, cutting funding for over 2,000 Customs and Border Protection Agents, 11,000 FBI personnel, and hundreds of local law enforcement positions.
• Makes traveling harder and less safe, shutting down 125 air traffic control towers, increasing airport security wait times and slashing rail safety inspections.
• Hurts our children’s education, eliminating Pell Grants for 80,000 students and causing 300,000 kids to lose access to Head Start and child care.
• Sends good-paying American manufacturing jobs overseas by repealing clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Cuts Medicaid for 2 million people, catering to MAGA extremist Rep. Matt Gaetz’s demands to make even harsher Medicaid cuts.
• Evicts hundreds of thousands of families, older adults, veterans and people with disabilities from Section 8 housing and cuts rental assistance.
• Takes away food assistance from more than one million seniors and 1.2 million women, babies, and children.
• Takes away health care access for 2 million people via community health centers, disproportionately impacting rural areas.

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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Ad Starts Running on May 16th in Norfolk-Virginia Beach Media Market Featuring Veteran Constituent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Courage for America released a new TV ad in VA-02 calling out Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02) for voting for the MAGA Default on America Act, which threatens to force a default on our nation’s debt unless devastating cuts to veterans are enacted. The ad launch is part of a broader 7-figure spend by Courage for America to educate communities about the impact of the MAGA-led effort to force a national default.

In the ad, Nancy, a constituent of Rep. Kiggans and retired Coast Guard veteran based in Chesapeake, VA, calls out Kiggans for supporting McCarthy’s Default on America Act, which would slash VA medical benefits, cut nearly 81,000 VA health service jobs, cut housing voucher programs for veterans that prevent homelessness, and more.

In the coming weeks, Courage for America will host a national “Your Fault if We Default” lobby day in DC, bringing constituents from VA-02, NY-19, NY-22, CA-13, and other Republican-held districts to the Capitol to host a press conference and meet with members of Congress. Courage for America is also partnering with Indivisible on constituent-led events in NY-19, NY-22, and VA-02.  

“Speaker McCarthy and his MAGA enablers in Congress are using this default crisis as an opportunity to make devastating cuts to veterans’ health care, education, child care, opioids treatment, and more,” said Naveed Shah, Courage for America spokesperson and political director for Common Defense. “Veterans like Nancy, who have sacrificed immensely to serve their country, deserve better than Rep. Kiggans’ plan to protect taxpayer giveaways to billionaires and corporations while cutting funding for service members.”

To speak with a Courage for America spokesperson or learn more about coordinated efforts to hold the MAGA House accountable on the default crisis, please email [email protected].

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