DCCC slaps down $17K in the 15th, $13K in the 16th

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is out with its latest round of independent expenditures, this time targeting competitive races in Alaska, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio.

In the Buckeye State, the committee is investing nearly $17,000 in mailings and phone banking in the race for the 15th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus). In that race, Democratic Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy is taking on state Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus).

Kilroy narrowly lost to Pryce in a heated 2006 battle for the Columbus-area seat. The campaign for the seat this cycle is among the most closely-watched in the country.

The committee is also spending $13,000 on mail services and phone banking in Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, where state Sen. John Boccieri (D-Alliance) and state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Navarre) are battling it out for the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre).

The well-funded DCCC is also spending about $39,000 for a media buy in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District, $68,000 in media and mail services in Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, $1,200 for phone banking in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, and $18,000 for mailings in Alaska’s At-Large district.

Of the five seats being targeted, four are currently Republican held.