WASHINGTON, DC – J Street Action Fund, the independent expenditure arm of the leading pro-Israel, pro-peace group J Street, announced today a major $660,000 campaign in support of prominent progressive Democrat Donna Edwards, the former four-term Congresswoman who is running again for her former seat in Maryland’s 4th district.
The campaign will include a $500,000 television ad buy along with $160,000 in spending on digital advertising and direct mail to Democratic voters across the district ahead of the July 19 primary.
J Street Action Fund’s first digital ad contrasts Edwards’ impressive track record, endorsements and commitments as a Democratic leader with Ivey’s ties to and support from Republicans: “Donna Edwards: A Democrat Who Delivers.”
Edwards has already faced over $1.4 million in outside attack ads and spending from “United Democracy Project”, an AIPAC-led SuperPAC funded by Republican billionaire mega-donors Paul Singer and Bernie Marcus. The ads have been publicly rebuked as misleading by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of several prominent Democratic leaders endorsing Edwards. Edwards’ opponent Glenn Ivey has refused calls to reject or disavow AIPAC’s Super PAC support, despite AIPAC’s endorsement and funding of 109 Republicans who voted to overturn the election results on January 6.
“Donna Edwards is a talented and experienced lawmaker with an impressive track record of delivering for her district, and of fighting for democratic values and diplomacy-first foreign policy,” said J Street Vice President of Public Affairs Kevin Rachlin. “Democratic voters need to know that AIPAC, a group that endorses insurrectionist Republicans like Scott Perry, is funneling millions of dollars from GOP mega-donors into attacking Edwards and supporting her opponent, simply because she stands for the principled, progressive views of mainstream Democratic voters. J Street Action Fund is proud to do all we can to back the candidacy of Donna Edwards, a fighter for democracy and a proven champion for the pro-Israel, pro-peace policies that the majority of our community support.”
J Street Action Fund’s independent expenditure campaign builds on a growing wave of support for Edwards, who has received endorsements from Speaker Pelosi, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Elizabeth Warren, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Emily’s List, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, SEIU and many more. Earlier this week, LCV Victory Fund announced its own $550,000 independent expenditure effort in the race.
Edwards was one of JStreetPAC’s very first endorsees during her previous tenure in Congress from 2008-2017. Throughout her career, she has strongly advocated for a two-state solution that would secure self-determination, security and human rights for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Edwards was also an outspoken supporter of the Iran nuclear agreement and President Obama’s diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from ever developing a nuclear weapon. She served on the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, reviewing and responding to human rights abuses worldwide.
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Contact: Logan Bayroff, [email protected]