WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Republicans will increase their spending on TV ads in seven battleground States as part of a $53 million messaging campaign aimed to win a majority in Congress in November’s midterm elections.

According to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (the campaign arm of the party’s Senate caucus), the ads will be targeted at competitive races in Arizona and Georgia.

On Friday, in Arizona and North Carolina the new ads will begin. The group used to delay spring and summer ads until June in previous years.

According to Jackie Schutz Zeckman, NRSC Executive Director, the ads will blame President Joe Biden, his Democratic allies, and Congress for rising crime rates and skyrocketing inflation, as well as illegal immigration.

Zeckman released a statement saying that “The NRSC… had reserved the greatest amount of ad-time (of any election cycle)… and will spend earlier than ever to make sure they define these radical Democrats’ and send them packing for November”.

The NRSC already has spent more than $3,000,000 on advertising in New Hampshire.

It plans to spend $15.4million in spring and summer, and $32.7 million for advertising for fall. A further $2.6million has been reserved for hybrid ads which include both TV and online messaging.

Nora Keefe of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), spokeswoman, said that Senate Republicans were panicking. She predicted Republicans would lose November due to flawed candidates and abortion rights issues.

For the fall, $33 Million has been reserved by the DSCC in advertisements.

The Senate has 100 members and is split 50-50. Democrats currently control the chamber due to Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote.

Republicans are hoping to win the Democratic-held Arizona, Georgia and Nevada seats. They defend open Republican seats, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as supporting Senator Ron Johnson’s campaign for reelection in Wisconsin. The state is currently rated an up-or-down.

The NRSC had $147.8million in current elections and $44 million of cash at its disposal as of March 31st. According to Federal Election Commission documents, the DSCC had $129.4 million raised and $43.7 million cash in hand as of March 31.