House Democrats Using Anonymous Facebook Pages for Attack Ads
The logo of an anonymous Facebook page House Democrats are using to run attack ads on some House Republican candidates. (Source: Facebook)
House Democrats appear to be using anonymous Facebook pages to promote Democratic candidates and to attack Republican contenders ahead of the November 3 election. But, whether the ads flout state law may be up for debate.
Ads being promoted from pages called “Reform Illinois” and “Wrong For Illinois” have been appearing in feeds across the suburbs and city of Chicago. The Reform Illinois page has run around $60,000 in ads from Democratic Majority, the House Democratic campaign arm, and the Wrong for Illinois page has spent around $5,000.
The pages contain little actual content, and the paid ads don’t appear on the main page. They link to a small attack website, known as a “microsite” or to the Democrat’s official page.
The campaigns of two Republicans targeted by the ads were critical of the Democratic strategy.
“It’s no surprise Speaker Madigan is using shady tactics to deceive voters that Michelle Darbro is his handpicked candidate and another rubber stamp for his agenda,” said Kyle Haevers, the campaign manager for State Representative Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont). “The Madigan/Kim Foxx/Darbro ticket is out of step with this district. How can Michelle Darbro claim to be a voice for reform when she refuses to call on Madigan to resign or even demand he answer the House Special Investigative Committee’s questions?”
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) was more straight forward.
“Their pages are as empty as their promises,” he said.
The ads do include Facebook’s required disclosure “Paid for by Democratic Majority,” a committee many rank-and-file voters in Illinois wouldn’t likely recognize as a House Democrat page or one run by controversial House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The legality of the ads may also be in question. Illinois statute is vague on digital ads or ads made by a party committee, like Democratic Majority.
(10 ILCS 5/9-9.5)
Sec. 9-9.5. Disclosures in political communications.
(b) Any political committee, organized under this Code, that makes an expenditure for a pamphlet, circular, handbill, Internet or telephone communication, radio, television, or print advertisement, or other communication directed at voters and (i) mentioning the name of a candidate in the next upcoming election, without that candidate's permission, or (ii) advocating for or against a public policy position shall ensure that the name of the political committee paying for any part of the communication, including, but not limited to, its preparation and distribution, is identified clearly within the communication. Nothing in this subsection shall require disclosure on any telephone communication using random sampling or other scientific survey methods to gauge public opinion for or against any candidate or question of public policy.
Independent Expenditure committees, which are different than party committees, must disclose that no candidate approved the message and language that “no candidate is responsible for the content” language.
Monday was a state holiday, and a spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections could not be reached.
Multiple messages to both a House Democrat spokesman and a Democratic Party of Illinois spokesperson were not returned Monday.
It’s unclear how long Democrats plan to continue these ads, as the schedules aren’t available via Facebook’s public records. But, it appears the House Democrats have run negative ads against 9 Republicans and positive ads in 13 races thus far.
