Democratic Governors Association

Contribute

The Weekender (9/24/21)

Weekender

Share

Welcome to the Democratic Governors Association’s Friday newsletter, The Weekender.

Let’s get started.

Virginia: Terry McAuliffe released a new TV ad this week with Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund that featured a gun violence survivor who is against Youngkin’s stance on allowing guns in the hands of domestic abusers. McAuliffe has outlined a comprehensive plan to end gun violence in Virginia. Meanwhile, Glenn Youngkin is so desperate to run from his unpopular record that he released an incredibly misleading  ad attacking Terry McAuliffe that the Washington Post said has “dubious links.” Youngkin should stop trying to distort McAuliffe’s record and actually answer questions about his total allegiance to Trump — unlike the complete meltdown he had when he was asked a simple question about his support for Trump.

New Jersey: This week, the Star-Ledger published an opinion article from editorial page editor Tom Moran slamming Jack Ciattarelli for his far-right views and repeated lies about headlining a ‘Stop the Steal’ rally ahead of the deadly January 6th insurrection. Three weeks after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Ciattarelli spoke at a rally under the banner, ‘Stop the Steal.’ “It may be remembered as his fatal mistake,” wrote Moran. Last week, the Murphy for Governor campaign launched a television ad called “Our Way,” highlighting Ciattarelli’s involvement in the rally and several other extreme views, including his plans to roll back the right to choose, affordable health care coverage, voting rights, and gun safety laws. Moran says the ad “fortifies Ciattarelli’s ties to Trump,” and he “failed the test of character.” “Ciattarelli decided to go hard right to win the primary, and now he’s got Trump stuck to him like glue. It’s going to hurt him. As it should,” said Moran. And Moran’s right, the latest Monmouth University poll has Gov. Murphy holding a solid lead.

As Roe v. Wade is Threatened like Never Before, James Craig Vows “I Will Do Whatever I Can” to Keep Total Abortion Ban on the Books in Michigan

A secret recording captured Michigan GOP candidate for governor James Craig taking an extreme stance on restricting reproductive rights. In the recording, Craig promised to do “whatever I can” to restrict abortion by stopping the repeal of an archaic Michigan law that entirely bans abortion.The nearly 100-year-old law that Craig supports keeping on the books makes it a felony to perform an abortion and was nullified following Roe v. Wade. If Roe were overturned, it would immediately make Michigan among the nation’s most extreme for abortion laws by criminalizing abortion as manslaughter and classifying health care providers who perform abortions as felons.

Detroit Metro Times reports that in the recording, “Craig is asked if he would stop Democrats ‘from undoing the law that makes abortion illegal in Michigan.’” Craig responded by saying, “I will do whatever I can.” Craig’s secret, dangerous position on reproductive rights comes to light after he recently dodged questions in public on whether or not he supports abortion in cases of rape or incest. When asked point-blank if he supports an exemption in such cases, Craig responded by saying, “I don’t have a hard and fast line on it.”

DGA Launches Video Contrasting Gov. Janet Mills’ Leadership Against Paul LePage’s Failures
Ahead of Paul LePage’s GOP gubernatorial primary campaign launch, the DGA released a video contrasting Gov. Janet Mills’ leadership against LePage’s failures on education, health care, and bipartisanship. Watch the video here.Paul LePage is running on the same unpopular policies that hurt Maine families during his catastrophic governorship. During his failed tenure as governor, LePage underfunded schools by $1.3 billion and blocked health care for Maine families. Since then, Gov. Mills has helped clean up LePage’s mess and put Maine back on track.

Gov. Mills expanded affordable health care for tens of thousands of Mainers on Day One in office, invested a historic amount in Maine’s public schools, has led Maine to near best-in-the-nation results with the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked across the aisle to get Mainers back to work. The difference couldn’t be more clear — Gov. Mills is leading Maine forward while LePage tries to drag the state back.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on CNN with Victor Blackwell explaining his massive plan to combat climate change.Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Bloomberg with Tom Keene on infrastructure and fighting COVID in schools.

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on CNN with John Berman discussing the importance of following science and protecting the right to choose.


“Governor Hochul took office in the middle of a public health crisis and immediately hit the ground running, taking swift action to fight COVID and guide New York’s economic recovery. Her bold leadership has already delivered results for New Yorkers, from nearly doubling the money going out the door in emergency rental assistance to leading the state’s response to natural disasters.”

  • New Mexico Gov. and DGA Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham announcing the DGA’s endorsement of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“We’re seeing how a lot of Republican people with an ‘R’ behind their name are opposed to getting to the bottom of the debacle of 2020. And to me, that’s always a red flag that says to me, RINO or swamp creature … I don’t want them in the Republican party because I’m not sure they’re for the values of the Republican party.”Who said it? Send your answer to press@dga.net, and we’ll reveal the answer in the next Weekender!

If you guessed Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake last Friday, excellent job! Sticking to her far-right extremism, Lake perpetuated false claims of voter fraud and vowed to prosecute anyone believed to have committed “fraud.”