A gun control group is targeting several Minnesota state legislative races with a string of ad buys in an attempt to install a DFL House majority.
“Minnesota Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund” announced in a press release that they will begin cable television and digital advertising highlighting politicians’ stances on background checks for all gun sales. The ads will specifically target Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-44A,) Sen. David Hann (R-48,) and Mary Shapiro, the Republican candidate in house district 48A.
Everytown for Gun Safety was founded in 2006 as Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG). In 2014, MAIG joined with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and formed the present organization. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is the founder and co-chair of the organization, and has spent millions of his personal fortune financing the group.
Approximately $400,000 will be spent in total on Minnesota races by this group, reports the Star Tribune. In addition to the money, and perhaps more importantly for these tight state legislative races, the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action is also mobilizing up to 1,600 volunteers against the candidates, according to the Star Tribune.
“The majority of Minnesotans support background checks on all gun sales and I want my elected leaders to do the same,” said Stephanie Karri, a constituent of Anderson’s and a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, “We deserve representatives who will put the safety of our families and communities ahead of the gun lobby, and that’s why I’ve been knocking on doors and speaking out in my community about the importance of gun sense voting.”
The press release for Everytown for Gun Safety boasts of a Saturday’s worth of activity spent door knocking in Anderson’s district, with the promise of more to come. Republicans have yet to be cowed however, and have vowed to fight back.
“If the Bloomberg types try to influence this election, we’ll kick their butts all the way back to New York City,” Rep. Tony Cornish (R-23B) told the Star Tribune.
