SIX FIGURE CAMPAIGN IS FIRST PHASE OF MULTI-PRONGED CAMPAIGN TO DERAIL RFK, JR’s BID for HHS
December 11, 2024
(PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA) — Calling RFK, Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) a national crisis, 314 Action today announced the launch of a new six figure digital ad campaign to oppose his bid for the nation’s top health care post. As first reported in Axios, the organization’s ad campaign will put the spotlight on five Republican U.S. Senators, including Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX) and call on them to vote against Robert F. Kennedy’s confirmation.
“From causing a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa, perpetuating outlandish conspiracy theories, and rejecting modern, life-saving medical advancements—RFK Jr. has proven to be a dangerous extremist who is unfit to lead our nation’s premier health agency,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President and Founder of 314 Action. “Our elected officials have a responsibility to listen to their constituents’ concerns—which is why we’re calling on people to call their U.S. Senators and tell them to vote against RFK Jr’s nomination to HHS. If confirmed, RFK Jr. will immediately put the lives of families and children in danger and the health of millions of Americans at risk. It’s crucial for Senators on both sides of the aisle to reject his nomination.”
The digital ads targeting constituents of Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC), urging them to call these senators to vote against RFK Jr.’s confirmation. Collins, Tillis, and Cornyn are all up for re-election in ‘26 and Cassidy is a physician who is likely to become the Chair of the healthcare committee. The digital ads on Facebook will target GOP leaning voters and urge them to call their Republican Senators to express their displeasure and opposition to RFK Jr.
Naughton added, “We’re proud to lead the fight against RFK Jr.’s nomination. We refuse to back down because the stakes are higher than ever. We will do everything we can to ensure that our lawmakers and this new Administration uses science, facts, and data to make public policy decisions in order to best safeguard our nation. We look forward to continuing our efforts to spotlight RFK Jr.’s dangerous record and keep the American public safe.”
Axios: First look: Early campaign launched against RFK
By Victoria Knight
12/11/2024
Key sections:
- 314 Action, an advocacy group that supports electing progressive doctors and scientists to Congress, is launching a six-figure digital ad campaign today against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for HHS secretary, in details first shared with Axios.
- Why it matters: The targeted online campaign marks one of the opening salvos in what’s expected to be a bitter confirmation fight.
- Zoom in: The six-figure ad buy is aimed at five GOP senators who are seen as likelier to oppose the nomination.
- They are Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis. All but Murkowski are up for reelection in 2026.
- The campaign urges constituents to call their senators’ offices and urge them to vote down the nomination.
- Context: 314 Action supported Democratic doctors who ran for the House and won in this year’s election, including incoming Reps. Maxine Dexter, Kelly Morrison and Herb Conaway.
- The group’s mission is to elect lawmakers at both the federal and state levels who are “pro-science” and “committed to making decisions based on facts and evidence.”
314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals, up and down the ballot, who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.
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