Americans for Prosperity Action hits ‘extreme’ Andrew Gillum in new ad buy

Gillum AFP-Action ad 10.2.18

The Koch-backed political committee Americans for Prosperity Action, or AFP-Action, announced Wednesday that it was launching a digital and direct-mail campaign attacking Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum over his “record and extreme agenda.”

“Andrew Gillum’s agenda is too extreme for Florida,” said AFP-Action senior adviser Chris Hudson. “His plan for the economy? Raise taxes that hurt Florida businesses and families. His plan for health care? Take away your health insurance and cut access to Floridians on Medicaid by expanding a broken system. His plan for education? Destroy successful programs that give students a hand up in achieving their goals. We can’t afford Andrew Gillum.”

AFP-Action did not include any of the direct mailers in its announcement, though it did link to the digital ad. The 30-second spot, titled “Andrew Gillum is too Extreme for Florida,” starts by saying “Florida is on the right track, good jobs and a strong economy,” before pivoting to hammer Gillum.

“Andrew Gillum’s extreme agenda could put it all at risk. Gillum supports government-run, single-payer healthcare that could prevent access to quality, affordable care,” the ad narrator says. “He’d end successful education programs for one-size-fits-all mandates that hold our students back.

“His plan to pay for all these promises? More taxes on hard-working families and local businesses. Andrew Gillum is too extreme for Florida,” the ad concludes.

The ad buy comes after AFP-Action has attacked Gillum in press releases for his health care positions and for a statement he made during an appearance on Facing South Florida that said the state’s low unemployment level was due to individuals being forced to work “two to three jobs to make ends meet.”

The new ad buy comes a day after AFP-Action announced it was launching a “significant direct-mail push” to oppose U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in his re-election bid against Gov. Rick Scott.

Gillum, currently the mayor of Tallahassee, has indicated that he would raise taxes on businesses. His plan would increase Florida’s corporate income tax rate from 5.5 percent to 7.75 percent in order to pay for his proposed $1 billion increase in the education budget.

Republican nominee Ron DeSantis has dogged Gillum for that position on the campaign trail, most recently when he was accepting the “firm endorsement” of the Florida Chamber of Commerce last week.

AFP-Action’s ad is below.

Drew Wilson

Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics. He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, a University of Florida alumnus, covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics.


6 comments

  • ALLEN YELVERTON BIRD

    October 3, 2018 at 9:35 am

    Drew Wilson, Why is there an Islam tag on this article? And that tag leads to a Barack Obama secret Muslim conspiracy theory. This is an outrageous attempt to smear a Devout Christian Americans with Islamic terrorist!

  • Marion

    October 3, 2018 at 9:56 am

    I don’t know what is devoutly Christian about advocating theft from ones neighbor as Gilllum advocates.

    • ALLEN YELVERTON BIRD

      October 3, 2018 at 2:23 pm

      Jesus was a leftist! Have you ever read the the Gospels

  • James F Matthews

    October 4, 2018 at 8:33 am

    He is a Commie like Sanders. No one wants him in Florida.

    • gop lizardparty

      October 4, 2018 at 12:16 pm

      Jesus??? Oh, for Christ’s sake…. or is it Allah’s? You lizard creature gop’ers are f’ing crazy right wing crazies!

  • Marcus sammons

    October 6, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    Mr G illum will destroy Florida’s economy if elected. Every time someone says they want everything free trust me nothing’s free. Someone will pay and that someone is you and I. I personally don’t want to work and give my money away. I ask you all to vote in November against Gillian

Comments are closed.


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