EXCLUSIVE — Republican candidate for Senate Tiffany Smiley has launched three new ads as part of her campaign’s closing arguments to Washington voters.
Two of the ads feature voters who the campaign says formerly backed Democratic incumbent Sen. Patty Murray, and the other targets the homelessness crisis. With less than a month to go before the midterm elections, Smiley is polling about 10 points behind Murray, on average.
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One of the ads targets the increasing cost of living due to inflation, while another tackles rising crime rates. The ads are part of a multimillion-dollar ad buy running statewide that started Wednesday and will run past Oct. 21, when ballots will start going out to voters.
In a 30-second spot called “Doing Better,” voters upset over the economy are quoted in quick succession.
“We voted for Patty Murray four times before, but not this year, not this time,” says one.
“We’re headed in the wrong direction, and we need new blood,” says another.
The same voters express frustration over crime and homelessness in a second ad titled “Sirens.”
“We hear stories every single day of people being mugged or shot,” one woman says.
“It is absolutely not safe. We’re lifelong Democrats. I have voted for Patty Murray many times, at least five times, and I just can’t do it. This time we’re voting for Tiffany Smiley,” the ad says, piecing together a supercut of voters.
At the end, one of the women, interrupted by the sound of an emergency response vehicle, tells the camera, “The nonstop sirens: This is why you don’t vote for Patty Murray. It never used to be like this.”
The third ad shows Smiley addressing homeless encampments, which are often sites of drug use.
“Doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat, this is unacceptable,” Smiley says in front of one encampment. “People’s lives are on the line, and what are Joe Biden and Patty Murray doing about it? Buying electric cars for rich people. I know what it’s like to be down and out and lost in a system that cares more about serving itself than serving the people. It’s not just indefensible, it’s immoral. Putting people first is why I’m running for Senate.”
Smiley helped clean up the SODO camp in Seattle earlier this month.
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“The few hours I spent at the SODO camp were sobering and gut-wrenching,” Smiley said in a statement about the cleanup. “As I picked through the needle-strewn debris, my heart was breaking for the members of our community who are living in these conditions. It is so clear that current policies are not helping, but rather exacerbating this crisis, and we need fresh solutions.”
If elected, Smiley would be the first GOP senator from Washington in nearly 30 years. Her challenge to Murray has been more competitive than many expected from the usually deep-blue state.
