Virginia LCV PAC, Priorities USA Action Launch $200K Digital Program to Defeat Ed Gillespie
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2017
Contacts
Josh Schwerin, Priorities USA Action, [email protected]
Lee Francis, VA LCV PAC, [email protected]
Virginia LCV PAC, Priorities USA Action Launch $200K Digital Program to Defeat Ed Gillespie
Gillespie Inaugurates LCV’s 2017-2018 “Dirty Dozen in the States”
PollutEdGillespie.com Launches for Virginians to Learn About His Record
RICHMOND – The Virginia League of Conservation Voters PAC today launched a $200,000 digital program to defeat Ed Gillespie, bringing their total investment in the governor’s race to $2 million. The ads will run on a variety of platforms through the election and encourage Virginians to go to a new website, PollutEdGillespie.com, to learn about Gillespie’s record of siding with corporate polluters over Virginia families.
Virginia LCV PAC also announced that Gillespie has been named the inaugural member of “Dirty Dozen in the States” for the 2017-2018 election cycle. Modeled after the League of Conservation Voters’ trademark federal “Dirty Dozen,” the state version highlights twelve of the most anti-environment state-level candidates who state LCVs are working to defeat around the country.
“Ed Gillespie has a long history working for corporate polluters who want to poison our air and water to boost their own profits,” said Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV PAC. “As Governor, he would be Donald Trump’s lobbyist in Virginia, pushing a dangerous agenda that rolls back protections for our clean air and water, threatens Chesapeake Bay restoration and jumpstarts risky offshore drilling. That’s why the League of Conservation Voters has recognized him as one of the biggest threats to our environment in the entire country. Voters need to know that the real Ed Gillespie imperils our families’ health and clean energy future.”
Priorities USA Action partnered with VA LCV PAC to design the digital ads, which focus on Gillespie’s work lobbying for big polluters. Sample ads can be found here and here. In addition to traditional social media platforms like Facebook, the ads will reach voters through mobile targeting, YouTube pre-roll, Pandora radio, local news websites and streaming services like CBS Sports.
“We’re partnering with Virginia LCV PAC to ensure Virginia gets a pro-science, pro-clean energy governor and not a lobbyist who will support Donald Trump’s anti-environment agenda,” said Patrick McHugh, Executive Director of Priorities USA Action. “These ads will help hold Ed Gillespie accountable for his toxic record because Virginia can’t afford to have a governor who puts polluters over clean air, clean water and the good-paying jobs that come with them.”
PollutEdGillespie.com walks through Gillespie’s record on climate, environment and energy. Highlights include:
- Gillespie’s support for Trump, whose cuts to EPA funding would threaten Chesapeake Bay clean-up and safeguards for our kids’ health.
- Gillespie’s ties to the Koch Brothers and his work for Washington lobbying firms that strive to undermine climate science.
- Gillespie’s enthusiastic support for offshore drilling, despite very real consequences for Virginians’ economy, health and safety.
Virginia LCV PAC has invested more in November’s governor race than any other campaign to date. The digital program builds on a $1.1 million Richmond field operation and a $700,000 investment in Ralph Northam’s campaign. Virginia LCV PAC endorsed Northam in June, praising his long record of working to protect our environment and his commitment to standing up to the Trump administration’s attacks.