WASHINGTON–With 35 days to go until the midterm elections, CUNA and a number of affiliated state leagues are launching efforts aimed at supporting pro-credit union candidates.
According to Trey Hawkins, deputy chief advocacy officer with CUNA, through its PAC, the Credit Union Legislative Action Committee (CULAC), CUNA and the state leagues have spent approximately $7 million to “elect a pro-credit union majority in Congress,” including $3.3 million distributed for the 2018 elections.
Beginning this week, CUNA and the leagues are rolling out their direct voter contact programs for pro-CU candidates in tight races, according to Hawkins.
Among the candidates, all of whom are incumbents, getting support this week:
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
- Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) in Maine’s second district
- Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) in Texas’ 7th district
- Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) in Illinois’ 6th district
- Rep. Mike Post (R-IL) in Illinois’ 12th district
- Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) in Illinois’ 13th district
- Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) In Illinois 14th district
Partisan Communications
Hawkins said each of the candidates will receive support in the form of partisan communications targeting CU members in those states. The support will include multiple rounds of direct mail, while half of those races will also receive support from targeted digital media on Facebook and other platforms, as well as members-only websites.
“All are positive in nature,” said Hawkins. “All happen to be incumbents and outline their strong history of supporting credit unions. These are races where we can be most helpful. We have found credit union members respond positively from messages from their credit unions and credit union partners.”