Democrats behind racist smears targeting Juan Ciscomani: ICYMI
Democrats launched a barrage of racist text messages, robocalls and mailers against Juan Ciscomani to suppress GOP votes. Gibson McKay, who hosted a Ruben Gallego fundraiser, executed the racist smear campaign.
“Extreme Democrats stooped to a shameful new low with a brazen racist ploy to cover for Kirsten Engel’s extreme open borders record. Southern Arizonans won’t be deceived when they know Engel denied there is a border crisis and backed defunding the police.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen
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What is the shadowy political group sending racist messages attacking Rep. Juan Ciscomani?
Arizona Republic
Laura Gersony
November 2, 2024
A newly formed political group was sending out racist text messages to influence one of Arizona’s most hotly contested congressional races, but it was unclear who was behind the political attacks.
The group, called Save Western Culture, sent mass text messages referring to incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., as “Mexican-born” and claiming he had voted against U.S. interests.
It also sent out mailers calling Ciscomani a “RINO” — or “Republican In Name Only” — who “failed to stop the flow of illegal immigration into Arizona.”
Ciscomani moved to Arizona from Mexico when he was a young child and made history as the first naturalized American to represent Arizona in Congress.
His campaign immediately decried the text messages as racist and said they were an attempt at “voter suppression.” He alleged the texts were sent by allies of his Democratic opponent, Kirsten Engel, a former state lawmaker.
“These calls and messages are illegal and racist,” Ciscomani said in a written statement posted to social media. “They don’t disclose who is paying for the message. And they attack me for being an immigrant. I am a proud immigrant who is fighting every day to preserve the American Dream.”
[…]
The group has spent around $60,000 against Ciscomani in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, according to campaign finance records.
It also has spent around $10,000 against Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., the state’s other vulnerable incumbent U.S. House member. Schweikert is locked in a tight race with Democrat Amish Shah in the Scottsdale-area 1st Congressional District.
Schweikert’s campaign sent out a written statement in response to anonymous voicemails and text messages, accusing “Shah and the Democrats” of engaging in “voter suppression.”
[…]
Save Western Culture is spending money in more than two dozen competitive congressional races across the country, according to its campaign finance reports.
Republicans say the eleventh-hour activity is an attempt to siphon conservative voters away from vulnerable GOP incumbents.
Finance reports offer few clues about Save Western Culture
Little is publicly known about Save Western Culture, the group slinging the allegations against Ciscomani.
The group was formed in mid-October and hasn’t yet reported its donors.
Its finance reports offer sparse clues. The group paid a company called Apex Growth Strategies for advertising work across the country. That company is owned by Phoenix-based lobbyist Gibson McKay.
[…]
Daniel Scarpinato, an aide to Ciscomani, told The Arizona Republic that he spoke with McKay on the phone after learning about his link to Save Western Culture.
According to Scarpinato’s account of the conversation, McKay said a Democrat-aligned group was behind the text messages, and he seemed surprised to learn that they had racist content.
McKay did not return The Arizona Republic’s multiple requests for comment.
McKay previously was censured by Republicans in Arizona’s Legislative District 5 after party leaders said he participated in a fundraiser for Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat now running for the Senate.