Campaign group Republicans for Ukraine are launching a six-figure advertising blitz urging GOP House members to support a discharge petition to pass a bill containing additional military aid for Ukraine, after Speaker Mike Johnson declined to bring it to a vote.
On February 13 the Senate passed a $95 billion package including an additional $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, but it must also be approved by the House before President Joe Biden can sign it into law. Currently Johnson is refusing to hold a vote on the package, which he claimed is "silent on the most pressing issue facing our country," in a reference to illegal immigration.
On Wednesday Republicans for Ukraine announced a "six-figure digital ad" campaign aimed at the 10 House Republicans they seem most likely to sign a discharge petition. A discharge petition, which would require the support of 218 House members including at least four Republicans, could allow the aid package to go to a vote without Johnson's backing. Supporters of Ukraine are confident they have the numbers needed to pass the package in the House if they can get it to a vote.
Speaking to Newsweek, Republicans for Ukraine spokesperson Gunner Ramer said: "For generations, the Republican Party prided itself on standing up to dictators and leading the free world. Many Republicans, including many in Congress, still identify with that party and that role for America. Right now the critical issue in the world is whether free countries will help defeat Putin in Ukraine.
"Republicans have a chance to make history, but only if they get to vote. That's why they should sign a discharge petition—it only takes four, but there's safety in numbers. These 10 members have been leaders on Ukraine and American national security in the past, and it's time for them to be leaders again."
The 10 House Republicans being targeted by the campaign are Mike Gallagher (WI), Ken Buck (CO), Mike McCaul (TX), Mike Rogers (AL), Mike Turner (OH), Don Bacon (NE), Steve Womack (AR), Jake Ellzey (TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Dan Crenshaw (TX).
The campaign features a one-minute ad in which "lifelong Republican voters" explain why they think the House should provide additional support to Ukraine.
In the video, which has received over one million views on YouTube, one Republican voter from California comments: "If we don't support Ukraine I fear China could potentially see that as a signal where they believe that they can invade their neighbours too."
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talking to reporters during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on February 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. Republicans for Ukraine are launching an advertising campaign in... Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talking to reporters during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on February 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. Republicans for Ukraine are launching an advertising campaign in a bid to force a vote on a foreign aid package which the speaker is refusing to endorse. More Chip Somodevilla/GETTY
A GOP supporter from Ohio makes a similar point, commenting: "If we deal in weakness in the face of aggression it's a clear signal countries like China to invade Taiwan."
Another Republican voter, from North Carolina, says: "Everyone's concerned that somehow if we send more weapons we'll start World War III. I say just the opposite, if we don't send weapons and check Putin now we're going to have World War III."
Newsweek reached out to Speaker Johnson's office by email at 3:00 a.m. ET on Thursday. This article will be updated with any comment.
Last week Russian troops completed the capture of the Donetsk city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, the first major settlement they seized since the fall of Bakhmut in May 2023. Ukrainian defenders had complained of ammunition shortages, in particular of artillery shells, during the fighting.
Earlier this week it was reported Iran has provided Russia with around 400 powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles that could be used against Ukraine. According to a report by South Korea's National Intelligence Service in November, Moscow has also received over a million artillery shells from North Korea.