Welcome to the Democratic Governors Association’s Friday newsletter, the Weekender.
Let’s get started.
Georgia: A new report exposes Brian Kemp for accepting $50,200 in donations from Daniel Defense, the gun manufacturer that made the Uvalde, Texas shooter’s weapon, and the company’s CEO. This comes as Kemp continues to double down on his dangerous criminal carry bill, which makes it easier for criminals to carry loaded, concealed guns without a permit. The law has been widely condemned by law enforcement and is opposed by 70% of registered Georgia voters. The company’s CEO donated $25,000 to Kemp’s PAC less than a month before Kemp signed the criminal carry bill.Florida: Despite what he said in public, new records show Ron DeSantis is behind the ongoing gas tax holiday delay in Florida, as he pushed the legislature to wait to provide relief only for the month of October to benefit his reelection campaign. The Tampa Bay Times first reported that Floridians “must wait nearly four months before they can save 25 cents on every gallon at the pump,” thanks to DeSantis. Now, Jason Garcia is adding in another report that “Ron DeSantis’ public campaign for a giant gas-tax cut was one of the more interesting dramas of this year’s legislative session. And now it looks like it was all just Kabuki theatre” because “now we know from public-records that DeSantis’ office suggested the October-only holiday.” This is the latest instance of Floridians paying the price for DeSantis’ self-serving agenda. DeSantis refuses to take action to address skyrocketing housing costs and opposes expanding and lowering the cost of health care coverage by expanding Medicaid. Estimates also show DeSantis’ political revenge scheme against Disney could raise property taxes for residents by as much as 25% at a time when Floridians are already struggling with skyrocketing housing costs.
RGA Co-Chair Pete Ricketts is Too Extreme on Abortion for CT, But Stefanowski Can’t Run From His Radical Record EitherAfter RGA co-chair Pete Ricketts initially committed to hosting a private fundraiser in Connecticut with GOP candidate for governor Bob Stefanowski, the fundraiser was quickly pulled down with no plans to reschedule.Ricketts, who supports banning abortion “in all cases, including rape and incest,” is too toxic for Connecticut — but he’s par for the course when it comes to Stefanowski’s extreme agenda. Stefanowski supported Trump and Trump-nominated justices who are now on the verge of overturning Roe, and he’s promised the NRA he would repeal the state’s post-Sandy Hook gun control law.
Ricketts isn’t the only toxic member of the far-right propping up Stefanowski’s campaign. Sean Fieler, a well-known anti-choice, anti-gay marriage extremist, has promised to pour over $1 million into hateful, divisive rhetoric to support Stefanowski. Stefanowski gladly accepted his support and refused to condemn his extremism.
DGA-Backed Group Releases First TV Ad of 2022, Exposing Fraud, Failures, & Chaos Among MI Republicans
This week, Put Michigan First, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association, is releasing its first TV ad of 2022, titled “Forged.” The ad exposes the fraud, failures, and chaos among Republican politicians across Michigan. The ad calls out James Craig and Perry Johnson for their mass fraud scandal, Kevin Rinke for his record of workplace harassment, Tudor Dixon for her failed acting career, and Garrett Soldano for pushing fake COVID cures, along with the FBI’s recent arrest of Ryan Kelley for his role in the violent attack on the United States Capitol on January 6th.The ad touts Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s record of protecting free and secure elections in Michigan, which is a major contrast to the Republicans in the ad, who are all on the same side when it comes to promoting dangerous conspiracy theories and policies that undermine American democracy. The TV ad will begin running statewide this week, including during primetime slots on Fox News in Detroit, Lansing, Alpena, Flint, Marquette, and Traverse City.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on MSNBC talking about his state’s strong, commonsense gun safety laws.Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams on MSNBC discussing the momentum fueling her campaign.
“The only thing standing in the way of a total abortion ban — with no exceptions — is my veto pen. And trust me, I won’t hesitate to use it to protect a woman’s right to choose in South Carolina.”
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial nominee Joe Cunningham on his commitment to protect reproductive rights.
“Marriage should be between a man and a woman.”Who said it? Send your answer to press@dga.net, and we’ll reveal the answer in the next Weekender!
If you guessed GOP nominee for Pennsylvania governor Doug Mastriano last time, nice job! Mastriano recently retweeted a clip of him comparing commonsense gun control measures to life in Nazi Germany.
