Scoop: GOP spending $5M to slam House Dems over political violence
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Screenshot from an American Action Network ad.
A House GOP group is launching a $5 million ad campaign accusing Democrats in 15 competitive races of fanning the flames of political violence, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Washington is embroiled in a government shutdown. But House Republicans are putting the focus on assassination attempts, violent assaults and heated political rhetoric.
- It's an early preview of the themes Republicans will focus on in the midterm election as they look to define the country's problems and put Democrats on the defensive.
- American Action Network is behind the campaign. The group is closely tied to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Zoom in: The ads vary by district, but accuse Democratic incumbents of voting against funding for law enforcement and feeding into or not condemning political violence, according to the ones viewed first by Axios.
- Many feature images from the assassination attempt on President Trump, ammunition engraved with "anti-ICE," the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina and a clip of Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough saying "there has been left-wing violence."
- At least one includes old texts from Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones (D) in which he suggested saving "two bullets" for the Republican state House speaker.
The ads hit members for their comments. One focused on Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) includes clips of her calling out fascism.
- Another targeting Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) includes his quote likening "Latinos for Trump" to "Jews for Hitler."
Zoom out: The ads will run starting Wednesday through Nov. 18 in these 15 districts:
- CA-13: Adam Gray
- CA-45: Derek Tran
- ME-02: Jared Golden
- MI-08: Kristen McDonald Rivet
- NM-02 : Gabe Vasquez
- NV-03: Susie Lee
- NY-03: Tom Suozzi
- NY-04: Laura Gillen
- NY-19: Josh Riley
- NC-01: Don Davis
- OH-09: Marcy Kaptur
- OH-13: Emilia Sykes
- TX-28: Henry Cuellar
- TX-34: Vicente Gonzalez
- WA-03: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
The other side: "Republicans need to stop spewing violent rhetoric for political gain. It's disgusting," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton.
- "Republicans have celebrated the pardons of violent criminals who attacked law enforcement, refused to speak out when those same criminals were recently arrested for threatening the opposition party's leader, and are led by a Vice President who laughs at racist, violent, antisemitic and pro-Hitler texts," Shelton added.
- "These phonies have no moral authority to lecture anyone."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
