Gay Republican Carl DeMaio Spends $1.2 Million on TV Time to Unseat San Diego Democrat

Gay Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio has bought $1.2 million worth of airtime for TV ads this fall. He is trying to unseat Democratic freshman Rep. Scott Peters in California’s 52nd Congressional District, according to a report by CQ Roll Call. 

If DeMaio wins in the November 4 general election, which is seen as a tossup, it will make him the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress. And when factoring in outside expenditures by various PACs and groups, the San Diego race makes for one of the most expensive House races to date. The 52nd District is also one of the priciest in the nation in which to air TV ads.

Peters has not yet secured ad time for the fall, although it is predicted he will do so. As of June 30, Peters’ war chest consisted of $1.9 million cash on hand, with DeMaio’s at $1.5 million, notes Roll Call.

The ads are slated to start running on September 15 and will be broadcast straight through the Nov. 4 election day, in and around the San Diego region. 

A poll conducted in June revealed DeMaio with a seven-point lead over Peters, whose seat is seen as being vulnerable. Peters defeated GOP incumbent Brian Bilbray in 2012 by a very slim margin. 

Both the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (NRCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) have also reserved airtime in the 52nd District in the fall, with $1.7 million secured by the NRCC and $1.4 million by the DCCC, respectively.