A Democratic-aligned PAC and two different shadowy teams in a aggressive Home district are looking for to spice up the possibilities of an unbiased candidate working towards Republican incumbent Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.).
A mailer from the Voter Safety Mission, a Democratic-aligned PAC, says Robert E. Reid will “represent true conservative values” and bashes Kiggans. A replica of the mailer was shared with The Hill.
One other new PAC referred to as Save Western Tradition, which has not but reported its funding sources, equally despatched out a mailer shared with The Hill that referred to as Kiggans a “globalist RINO,” whereas tying Reid to Trump.
A third group recognized as “Fight Big Pharma” despatched a mailer, a photograph of which was shared with The Hill, that negatively compares Kiggans to Reid relating to how the 2 mentioned the 2020 election. Kiggans within the mailer says President Biden gained in 2020, whereas it says Reid argued, falsely, that the election was stolen.
Kiggans, who’s going through Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal in a race rated “lean Republican” by the Cook dinner Political Report, criticized the “games” from a bunch that recruited the unbiased candidate in a September Home GOP press convention.
“While Democrats pretend to be defenders of democracy, they’ve proven yet again they will resort to lying and cheating in an attempt to trick voters. They know they cannot beat me in a fair fight straight up on my record and policy priorities, so they resort to unethical and shady tactics like this,” Kiggans mentioned on the press convention.
Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District is just not the one one through which a Republican is going through an obvious effort by outdoors teams to siphon votes away from Republicans to unbiased and third-party candidates. Save Western Tradition can also be supporting different third-party candidates in aggressive races.
Reid has not reported elevating any cash to the Federal Election Fee (FEC), and he has no marketing campaign web site.
He’s one among a number of candidates throughout the nation who was recruited by Patriots Run Mission, The Related Press reported in September. The group, which is reportedly related to Democratic companies, recruited the widowed retiree and different people to run as unbiased candidates in aggressive races, the report mentioned.
Republicans say the efforts to spice up the unbiased candidates are clear makes an attempt to siphon votes away from GOP candidates by interesting to conservative voters who wouldn’t in any other case vote for a Democrat.
In an interview with native outlet 13 Information Now that aired in the beginning of October, Reid — who reportedly doesn’t dwell within the district — mentioned he didn’t resolve to run to be able to siphon votes away from Kiggans. However he additionally mentioned he’s not positive if individuals ought to vote for him.
“I just found out yesterday I have cancer,” Reid mentioned. “I don’t know where my health is at. And I don’t want people to waste a vote if I’m not going to be here that long. And that’s the truth.”
Reid didn’t reply to cellphone and e-mail inquiries from The Hill on Thursday about his well being and his ideas in regards to the outdoors efforts to get voters to assist him.
The mailer from the Voter Safety Mission accused Kiggans of working “for her wealthy donors, not Virginia taxpayers,” citing a Politico story about earmarks in her district, and urging voters to assist Reid.
“Robert Reid Jr. is the only candidate we can trust,” the mailer mentioned, to “cut wasteful federal spending,” “drain the DC swamp” and “represent true conservative values.”
The Voter Safety Mission web site, nevertheless, aligns with Democrats and says on its web site that it’s combating towards “Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, and conservative legislatures around the country.”
Impartial expenditure stories present that the Voter Safety Mission spent $30,750 on a digital purchase and $72,119.56 on the unsolicited mail to spice up Reid in his race.
The group didn’t instantly reply to an inquiry from The Hill about why it’s supporting Reid, and whether or not the group stands for slicing spending and “conservative values” as articulated on the mailer.
“Save Western Culture” aggressively tied Reid to Trump in one other mailer.
“Globalist RINO Jen Kiggans stood by while we faced tyrannical COVID jab mandates,” the Save Western Tradition mailer mentioned on one aspect, whereas that includes a quote from Reid supportive of Trump on the opposite – picturing him a collage that included former President Trump, a statue of accomplice common Robert E. Lee, and an American flag.
The picture of Reid used on the mailer was taken from the native information interview through which he mentioned he’s not positive individuals ought to vote for him because of his most cancers analysis.
A latest unbiased expenditure report confirmed that the PAC spent $29,163.20 concentrating on Reid and $14,581.60 concentrating on Kiggans.
The group has additionally spent cash to prop up unbiased and third-party candidates in different races, the New York Submit reported. In Maryland’s Senate race, Save Western Tradition boosted Libertarian candidate Mike Scott, as former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Angela Alsobrooks (D) are looking for the open seat.
Save Western Tradition registered with the FEC on Oct. 11 and reported elevating $0 by means of Oct. 16 — however it has since filed unbiased expenditure stories totaling greater than $1 million in varied races. Its donors might not be identified till after the election.
The group didn’t return cellphone and e-mail inquiries from The Hill about its funding sources and resolution to assist Reid.
A 3rd group sending mail to voters to spice up Reid identifies itself as “Fight Big Pharma.”
Its mailer goals to indicate the place Kiggans and Reid “stand on our values,” with an obvious try to attraction to conservative voters. It says that Kiggans “said Biden won the election,” whereas Reid “believes the 2020 election was stolen,” and claims that whereas Kiggans “supports tax increases” — citing a vote on a large GOP invoice that may have repealed power tax credit — Reid “supports a flat tax for everyone.”
The Hill couldn’t discover any FEC, IRS or company information for “Fight Big Pharma.” A message to a Fb group of the identical title went unanswered. A disclaimer mentioned that the group “does not endorse or support candidates, but instead provides this educational information so that you can make an informed decision on voting,” indicating it isn’t a PAC.
Taylor Giorno contributed.
