Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) teamed up to launch an ad attacking House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) over public safety ahead of the midterm elections.
The two progressive Democrats are attempting to deflect Republican accusations that their party is soft on crime and supportive of defunding the police. The GOP has marketed itself as the party of law and order as it seeks to reclaim a majority in the lower chamber next year, with House Republicans pledging to tackle the issue in their “Commitment to America” agenda, unveiled last month in Pittsburgh.
MIDTERMS 2022: LIVE UPDATES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AHEAD OF CRUCIAL ELECTION
“The truth is, Kevin, you aren’t anti-crime, and neither is your party,” the voiceover says. “You and your fellow Republicans are just trying to scare voters, playing politics while leaving it to Democrats to actually work for the safety of Americans.”
“Everyone can see you are not pro-cop, Kevin McCarthy. You’re pro-coup,” the ad continues, attempting to tie the GOP leader to Republican efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
You can’t be pro-cop and pro-coup. @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy and the MAGA extremists want to make the election about “law & order” because they think Democrats won’t push back in their gaslighting.
Well, think again, Kevin. pic.twitter.com/9rhdyNotEe
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) October 3, 2022
The ad accuses McCarthy of failing his home district by voting against the American Rescue Plan, a bill backed by Democrats that included pandemic relief funds states and localities are using to bolster their police forces.
The ad attacks McCarthy for the crime rates in his 23rd Congressional District, citing a 2021 report from SafeWise that listed Bakersfield as the No. 10 most dangerous city in the United States. The ad echoes California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who called the county the city resides in the “murder capital of California” in a press conference last year, a statistic the Bakersfield Californian disputed in a January editorial.
The ad also paints Republicans as turning a blind eye to “certain crimes,” including the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Omar, like others on the left flank of the Democratic Party, was initially supportive of the “defund the police” movement, which came about in 2020 during widespread anger and protests after George Floyd was killed while being detained by police in Minneapolis.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“The ‘defund the police’ movement, is one of reimagining the current police system to build an entity that does not violate us, while relocating funds to invest in community services,” she tweeted in 2020. “Let’s be clear, the people who now oppose this, have always opposed calls for systematic change.”
High crime rates are typically ranked as one of the top concerns for voters ahead of the midterm elections, leading Republicans to hammer candidates ranging from John Fetterman in Pennsylvania to Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin on the issue. Republicans need to net five seats to take control of the House, while a net gain of one seat would hand Republicans control of the Senate next year.
