DCCC targets 35 House Republicans over budget law's impact on rural hospitals

Daniela Altimari, CQ-Roll Call on Jul 7, 2025

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WASHINGTON — The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s first national online ad buy of the 2026 cycle will focus on the impact of Republicans’ newly enacted tax and spending package on rural hospitals.

The digital ads, shared first with CQ Roll Call, are set to begin running this week on Facebook and Instagram and target the 35 House Republicans the DCCC has marked for defeat next year.

“Because of [his or her] vote, rural hospitals across America are now at risk of closing,” reads the text of these spots.

The four-figure digital buy is likely to be the first in a wave of ads by campaign committees and super PACs aligned with both parties spotlighting the sweeping GOP-led measure, which narrowly passed both chambers last week.

The DCCC aims to make sure “every battleground voter knows that instead of lowering costs for American families, Republicans are ripping away health care for millions and cutting funding for hospitals, all to pay for massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors,” committee spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement.

The legislation, which contains trillions of dollars in tax breaks and spending cuts, forms the heart of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda. Democrats were united in their opposition, while House Republicans saw two defections: libertarian-minded Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, one of three GOP lawmakers representing districts that Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 presidential race.

The impact of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals was a key issue in the negotiation process over the budget reconciliation bill. Some House Republicans from swing districts had expressed concerns that the sweeping measure could lead to the closure of rural hospitals and hurt vulnerable populations. All ended up voting for the measure after Senate Republicans added a provision that will provide additional funds for rural hospitals, though health advocates say that won’t be enough to make up for the shortfall.

“Vulnerable House Republicans’ incredibly cruel vote to jeopardize hospitals in their districts and across America is going to cost them their jobs and the majority,” Shelton said.

An independent analysis conducted by KFF found that the budget reconciliation measure would increase the number of people without health insurance by 10.9 million.