Everytown Launches $1 Million in Digital Ads and Direct Mail to Flip Minnesota Senate to a Gun Sense Majority
9.22.2020
Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Spending Roughly $400,000 on Digital Ads and $600,000 on Direct Mail Primarily Targeting Republicans in the Minnesota State Senate for Their Inaction in the Face of the Gun Violence Crisis
Everytown Polling Found Minnesotans Support Stronger Gun Laws by A 5:1 Margin and that Background Checks are a Top Issue Among Suburban Women
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund (“Everytown”) launched $1 million in digital ads and direct mail in order to elect a gun sense majority to the Minnesota State Senate. As part of the effort, Everytown will spend roughly $400,000 to run digital video, radio and static ads, and $600,000 to send candidate-specific direct mailers to voters in key State Senate districts. The digital ads and direct mailers will primarily highlight the failures of Republicans in the state legislature to address gun violence, and fight for the health and economic security of Minnesota families.
As part of this effort, Everytown will target the following districts:
SD-14, SD-25, SD-26, SD-34, SD-39
“For years now, Republican leaders in Minnesota’s Senate have chosen to put gun lobby interests ahead of public safety, but now the choice lies with the people,” said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown is going all out to help voters hold gun lobby lawmakers accountable for their refusal to pass common sense laws to keep our families safe.”
“Minnesota Republicans are not looking out for us — instead, they continue to side with the gun lobby and special interests over our safety, health, and security. And we’re going to make sure Minnesota voters know it before they cast their ballot this election,” said Jessica Deweerth, volunteer with Minnesota Moms Demand Action.
WATCH “SAFER,” AND “BACKED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS.”
View the static ad here.
View a sampling of the mail pieces below:
A January survey from Everytown found that the majority of voters in Minnesota support stronger gun safety laws, showing that:
- Voters in Minnesota support stronger gun laws by a 5:1 margin
- 74% of voters consider a candidate’s position on guns “very important” to their vote in 2020
- A majority of voters say they would never vote for a candidate who doesn’t support background checks on all gun sales, putting the issue on par with health care and national security in voters’ minds. And it is the TOP issue among suburban women by a five-point margin.
- 84% of voters surveyed support background checks on all gun sales, including 94% of suburban women, 89% of undecided voters, and 79% of voters surveyed in battleground legislative districts.
The Democratic-led Minnesota state House passed background check and red flag legislation, but Republicans who control the Senate blocked the bills for the second year in a row. Republicans currently hold a two-seat majority in the Minnesota state Senate.
This year, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund will spend $60 million on the 2020 elections, doubling what they spent during the 2018 elections.