Super PAC Ad Targets Reyes, Longtime Incumbents

A “super” political action committee has launched an attack ad against Rep. Silvestre Reyes, (D) El Paso, as part of a nationwide campaign targeting incumbents on both sides of the aisle.

The Campaign for Primary Accountability paid for a 30-second ad that began airing Wednesday morning. The ad starts off with a woman saying, “Silvestre Reyes: too many years in Congress,” and goes on to talk about the revelation that Reyes has paid family members working for his office $600,000 over two election cycles.

The Huffington Post reported that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, (R) Virginia, contributed $25,000 to the super PAC. Even though both Cantor and the organizers of the PAC have said the money was specifically for campaign ads for a race in Illinois, Reyes’ has said Cantor and the super PAC are backing his opponent, former city Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

“El Pasoans know when outsiders are trying to buy an election,” Jose Borjon, the spokesman for Reyes’ election campaign, stated in an emailed response to this story. “Special interests, camouflaged as a Super PAC, are trying to buy a seat in Congress–El Paso is not for sale.

“This is negative campaigning at its worst from a desperate candidate at the 11th hour.”

O’Rourke’s name is not mentioned in the ad.

The Huffington Post asked O’Rourke about his connection, if any, to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, but the congressional candidate said he believes they have nothing in common ideologically. O’Rourke said this about the congressman linking him to Cantor: “It is kind of a typical Reyes scare tactic.”

O’Rourke also told ABC-7 in an email he doesn’t know of any Super PACs supporting his campaign.

Early voting is under way and ends May 25. Election day is on May 29.