Democrats rush aid to deep-blue seat in Upstate New York

House Democrats’ top super PAC is making a last-minute buy to aid Rep. Joe Morelle, a New York Democrat in a deep-blue seat — the latest sign that the battle for the House is lurching toward the GOP.

Morelle, who was elected in 2018 to replace the late Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter, holds a Rochester-area district that backed President Joe Biden by 20 points in 2020. His Republican opponent, La’Ron Singletary, is a former Rochester police chief who has staked his campaign on rising crime rates in New York. House Majority PAC will go on air this week for Morelle with a $275,000 buy, according to data from the media tracking firm AdImpact.

The incumbent has spent close to $800,000 on TV, while Singletary has spent just $160,000, according to AdImpact. But there has been growing concern from Democratic operatives in recent weeks that blue states, such as Oregon and New York, are racing away from them.

Singletary’s tenure at Rochester’s police department ended shortly after the death of Daniel Prude, a black man who died in March 2020 after being physically restrained by Rochester police officers. He has accused Morelle of not speaking out against those who support the “defund the police” movement.

Singletary spent most of his life as a Democrat and holds some moderate positions on gay rights and gun safety.

In recent days, Democratic money has been pouring into seats once considered safe. House Majority PAC is also providing air cover this week to Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), an incumbent thought to be in a strong position because a far-right challenger emerged from the Republican primary for her seat. The group is placing a $240,000 buy in the Burlington, Vt. market to help her defeat Bob Burns, the GOP nominee.

Burns has not been able to air any TV ads of his own. Biden carried the seat by 9 points in 2020.

It’s possible the late spending is only out of an abundance of caution — but it’s not a good sign for Democrats with just a week to go until the midterms. At least two other seats Biden carried by 20 points have become problem spots for Democrats. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) has begun warning colleagues that her Southern California district could be in trouble.

And Pennsylvania Democrat Summer Lee went on TV with an ad last week, warning voters not to be confused by the fact that her Republican opponent has the same name as retiring Democratic Rep. Mike Doyle.