The Republican Governors Association launched an online publication this summer branded as a news organization that promotes GOP governors and criticizes their Democratic opponents, and gives little notice to readers the site is run by a political organization.
Called the Free Telegraph, the Associated Press reported the Republican Governors Association quietly unveiled the platform over the summer. The domain was registered July 7 through a company that hides the identities of a website’s registrants, and the publication began posting on its Facebook and Twitter accounts in July and August, respectively.
The Free Telegraph’s website includes headlines praising Republican governors and gubernatorial candidates, while those referencing Democratic governors and gubernatorial candidates are all negative. It also includes a spot where readers can sign up for breaking news alerts by entering their email addresses and ZIP codes.
The top stories on the site, for example, criticize Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam’s attendance record while he served as lieutenant governor. Northam is facing off against Republican Ed Gillespie in the state’s governor’s election this fall.
Another top headline on the Free Telegraph’s website dings New Jersey Democrat Phil Murphy for paying his campaign workers less than the $15 an hour minimum wage he advocates for. The governor’s race in New Jersey is between Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.
Absent from the Free Telegraph’s social media accounts on both Facebook and Twitter are any markings notifying visitors the site is run by the Republican Governors Association. Instead, the publication is classified as a “media/news company” on its Facebook page, and on Twitter, the website says it is “bringing you the political news that matters outside of Washington.”
On the Free Telegraph’s website, a notice at the bottom of its webpages states the site was paid for by the Republican Governors Association.
According to the Associated Press, the disclosure was added after it inquired about the website last week.
Republican Governors Association spokesman Jon Thompson defended the website, telling the Associated Press it is “just another outlet to share those positive results” of Republican governors.
