$888 million for ads: US Republicans ramp up sends to defend 39 House seats once deemed 'safe'

Republicans hold a 218-214 House majority, with one independent caucusing with them and two vacancies; Democrats need four seats to take control. US Republicans are pouring money into more than three dozen US House races previously considered safe for the party, with Republican groups reserving $888 million in advertising for the coming weeks, compared with $666 million for Democrats, according to AdImpact.Since September 1, major Republican groups and megadonors have begun spending in at least 39 House races where they had not previously deployed money this election cycle, a Reuters review found.Republican-leaning super PACs have also outspent Democrats almost 2-to-1 since Labor Day, spending about $309.7 million compared with $174.2 million, Federal Election Commission data shows, as cited by Reuters.What happened at 'safe' seats?Many of the districts remain Republican strongholds, with candidates still leading in public polls and several having backed Donald Trump by double-digit margins in 2024. But Republican leaders have warned campaigns that internal polling shows they cannot assume victory, according to people familiar with the party's thinking, quoted by Reuters.Economic p...