WASHINGTON—With November’s elections now just two weeks away, CUNA is making substantial investments in two more political races.
Through its Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC), CUNA is making an independent expenditure of $176,000 to fund TV advertising on behalf of Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL), according to CUNA’s director of political affairs and special projects, Trey Hawkins.
Rep. Southerland faces one of the closest congressional races in the country in Florida’s second district, where he is being challenged by (D) Gwen Graham, a first-time candidate and daughter of a former governor and senator Bob Graham.
Meanwhile, in another tight race, this one in California’s seventh congressional district, Hawkins said CUNA is supporting Rep. Ami Bera (D), who is being challenged by former congressman Doug Ose (R). Bera is a former member of a credit union board of directors.
The latest political support comes after CUNA shared that it is embarking on the largest partisan campaign in its history. The trade group’s Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) will be spending between $5.5 and $6 million on races, including independent expenditures and approximately $3 million in direct CULAC donations to candidates.
CUNA has stated it is supporting the re-election of Colorado Democrat Sen. Mark Udall with 120,000 direct mails to credit union voters in Colorado; spending $300,000 on behalf of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and $150,000 in support of former Arrowhead Credit Union employee Pete Aguilar (D) in CA-31.
CUNA is also backing Illinois Democrat Cheri Bustos (seven mailings to 25,000 people), and Illinois Republican Rodney Davis (four mailings to 16,000 people), both of whom are seeking re-election to the House, and Iowa Democrat Bruce Braley (eight mailings to 60,000 people), who is running for a Senate seat.
CUNA has also announced partisan communications in support of four other candidates as well: Democrats Kurt Schrader of Oregon and Rick Nolan of Minnesota, and Republicans Joe Heck of Nevada and Tom Reed of New York.