These were districts in which a Republican could not win. The Republicans focused their energy and money on races that were winnable. This election cycle was made much more difficult because of a recent statewide redistricting that resulted in new elections for every member of the house and senate. At the time of the redistricting, pretty much everyone who pays attention to these things concluded it would favor the Democrats.
We could have fielded candidates and forced the Dems to spend less money in other races where the Pubbies had a theoretcial shot so that these other races weren’t just “gimees”. This is how the Dems picked up delegate seats in 21. In my area all my pubbie people won. I voted and did what I could do.