Conservative Washington Political Action Committees are pumping money into Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District and attacking Democratic Candidate Amy McGrath.
The Congressional Leadership Fund released three ads on Wednesday in the district attacking Amy McGrath for being too liberal, soft on borders, and against the tax reform plan.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the radio ad paints Amy McGrath “as liberal as Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders”.
The first ad features local mother, Hannah Thornton, who benefited from the GOP tax plan. In the ad, she criticizes McGrath for being opposed to “a tax cut for working moms.”
The second ad goes after McGrath for her stance on immigration, highlighting donations from members of Congress who support abolishing ICE.
“McGrath’s support for open borders will make it easier for drugs and criminals to flow into our country,” the ad states.
McGrath’s campaign manager, Mark Nickolas, is responding to the release of the negative ads in the district.
“It’s clear that Andy Barr understands that the voters aren’t interested in re-electing him, so his only option is to try to destroy Amy with lies and attacks, with help from his party’s super PAC. But the voters already know Amy and she’s the most popular figure in the district. This is why voters hate politics and are rejecting Andy Barr.” he said in statement.
Nickolas went on to respond to the claim that McGrath supports open borders.
“The idea that a 20-year combat Marine, who defended our nation on the morning of September 11 and then fought Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Iraq to protect our homeland, is now soft on borders security is beyond insulting. No one is going to buy that.” he said.
The new round of negative ads come two days after Andy Barr released his own attack ad against McGrath, painting her as “too liberal for Kentucky.” And a day after McGrath released her first ad of the general election, highlighting her military experience and vowing to not take order from party bosses.
Another Washington group is pumping money into the district as well. The Herald-Leader reports Heritage Action for America, the political arm of the Heritage Foundation will donate money to Barr. The PAC has picked twelve congressional district to spend at least $2.5 million in—each district receiving between $200,000-$400,000.
The organization hopes to help defeat Democratic candidates who are seen as having a bright future.
They will launch their campaign after Labor Day, which will include direct mail pieces, online advertising efforts and TV ad buys. The ads will focus on pro-tax reform messaging.
