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Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Launches Powerful Closing Ad in Virginia’s Election, Makes Additional $100,000 in Donations

10.31.2019

New Digital Ad Highlights Virginia Republicans’ Inaction on Gun Violence After Virginia Beach Mass Shooting

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Also Contributing Additional $100,000 to Virginia Democratic House and Senate Caucuses As Part of $2.5 Million Effort to Elect Gun Sense Majority in General Assembly

RICHMOND, Va. — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund unveiled its closing ad of Virginia’s 2019 elections. The ad, “They Came,” highlights how people across the Commonwealth came to the Capitol expecting action after the Virginia Beach mass shooting, only for the Republican majority to shut down the special session to address gun violence after only 90 minutes. The ad will be incorporated into Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund’s more than $700,000 digital advertising effort from now through the election. 

WATCH: “THEY CAME.”

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund also announced that it is contributing an additional $50,000 to the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus and an additional $50,000 to the Virginia House Democratic Caucus. Everytown has now contributed $175,000 to the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, $150,000 to the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and $100,000 to Take the Majority (Democratic Party of Virginia). The contributions are part of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund’s $2.5 million effort to elect a gun sense majority in Virginia’s General Assembly, Everytown’s most robust commitment ever in the Commonwealth.

“Republican lawmakers sided with the gun lobby over the safety of the Commonwealth, and over the final days of the election, we’re going to make sure that every Virginian knows it,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety.

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund’s previously announced electoral work in Virginia’s 2019 elections includes:

  • A commitment to spend $2.5 million in Virginia’s 2019 elections.
  • Launching digital ad campaigns totaling more than $700,000 in 15 Republican-held districts.
  • Launching nearly $700,000 in direct mail.
  • Contributing $100,000 to Missy Cotter Smasal’s campaign in Virginia’s 8th Senate District, $50,000 to Debra Rodman’s campaign for Virginia’s 12th Senate District, $100,000 to Sheila Bynum-Coleman’s campaign in Virginia’s 66th House District and $75,000 to John Bell’s campaign in Virginia’s 13th Senate District to help air each candidate’s gun safety-themed TV ads. The ad buys totaled $600,000.
  • Endorsing 25 candidates — 22 running in the most competitive districts in the commonwealth — and making $113,000 in direct contributions to endorsed candidates.
  • Contributing $125,000 to the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, $100,000 to the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and $100,000 to Take the Majority (Democratic Party of Virginia).
  • Unveiling results of a battleground message poll, which found gun safety to be a top issue among voters in swing areas of Virginia.