Democrat Dan Ward launched a TV ad in the Richmond market Tuesday introducing himself to voters in the 7th Congressional District.
Ward, a pilot from Orange County, and fellow Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer from Henrico County, are vying in the June 12 primary for the chance to challenge Republican Rep. Dave Brat, who is seeking a third term in Congress.
Ward’s ad shows a picture of a cabin in Tennessee where he grew up without running water.
“Washington doesn’t give a damn. But I do,” Ward says in the ad.
Spanberger is expected to launch a TV ad soon.
Political action committees are getting involved on behalf of each candidate.
With Honor Fund Inc., a bipartisan organization that supports veterans running for office, recently disclosed in a Federal Election Commission filing that it has spent $30,500 for polling on behalf of Ward, a Marine veteran whom the organization has endorsed.
Spanberger referenced that spending in a fundraising email to supporters on Tuesday with the subject line, “dark money against us,” and said a PAC was “spending thousands of dollars to tip the scales against me in next month’s primary election.”
Dark money, however, refers to political spending in which donors are not disclosed, and With Honor discloses its individual donors, said spokeswoman Ellen Zeng.
“Our donors are interested in helping veterans getting elected, and they’re frankly proud of their involvement and want to be disclosed,” she said.