Anti-Trump GOP group, 'Republican Voters Against Trump,' launches swing state ad blitz

In the tightly contested race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, now nine weeks away, both campaigns and voter mobilization groups are trying to secure every possible vote for their candidates. This even includes groups like Republican Voters Against Trump reaching across party lines.

The group, a project of the Republican Accountability PAC, launched its largest ad buy this election on Tuesday, targeting conservative-leaning independents and undecided Republicans in multiple swing states, including Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.

Led by Sarah Longwell, a leading GOP critic of Trump and Republican strategist, Republican Voters Against Trump launched in 2019 during the former president’s first term in office and raised money during the 2022 midterms.

While most voters have already decided on a presidential candidate, the group still spent $11.5 million on ads to target those still on the fence, especially Republicans who aren’t thrilled about backing Trump. The group spent $50 million on ads targeting GOP voters earlier this year, according to the New York Times.

Recent polling shows Harris ahead of Trump, but the election is still expected to be close, and the Harris campaign is looking for ways to get even further ahead.

Over the last few weeks, Harris’ campaign has zeroed in on courting Republican voters, including launching “Republican Voters for Harris,” which included more than 25 GOP endorsements. August’s Democratic National Convention even featured Republican speakers, including former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R),  Mesa, Ariz. Mayor John Giles and former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

More than 200 former GOP staffers for four past Republican presidential nominees backed Harris last week in a letter, denouncing Trump’s pandemic response, felony convictions and attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

“We reunite today, joined by new George H.W. Bush alumni, to reinforce our 2020 statements and, for the first time, jointly declare that we’re voting for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz this November,” the letter reads.

“Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz. That’s to be expected. The alternative, however, is simply untenable.”

USA TODAY White House correspondent Joey Garrison contributed to the reporting of this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See a 'Republican Voters Against Trump' ad? Here's what to know