State Republicans target Virginia Democrats in new ads

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) and the Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee launched a new series of ads on Tuesday hitting state House Democrats over their record this legislative session. 

The new ads, which target incumbent Dels. Michael Feggans (D), Josh Cole (D), Josh Thomas (D), and Nadarius Clark (D), was first seen by The Hill. The 30-second spots are being supported by a six-figure investment. 

The ads target the state House Democrats over taxes and violent crime, as well as women’s and girl’s safety. The ad appears to tie the Democrats to an incident involving a registered sex offender in the state allegedly exposing himself to women and girls in a locker room in Fairfax County late last year, featuring a headline reading “Fairfax County government under scrutiny after male sex offender used female locker rooms.”

“Virginia Democrats like delegate Michael Feggans are copying their friends in Washington, higher taxes, ignoring women's and girls' safety, protecting violent criminals,” the ad’s narrator says. “Virginians didn't ask for this. Virginia Republicans are focused on what works, not partisan theatrics. That's why Republicans fought to cut taxes, create safer communities, and get schools on the right track. Virginia Republicans will put Virginia first every single day.”

The ads also tie the incumbent delegates to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). 

Democrats currently hold a slim 51 to 48 majority in the state’s House of Delegates, giving way for a competitive race for the majority in November.

Virginia Democrats have also poured money into the races. Last month, the RSLC’s counterparts, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced it was investing seven figures in the battle to keep the party’s majority in the lower chamber.