BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Republican side of the race to replace Kevin McCarthy in the 20th Congressional District was expected to be a friendly competition — a “gentleman’s race” between Tulare Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Bakersfield Assemblymember Vince Fong.
But it took a sharp turn in recent days with negative advertisements targeting Boudreaux and labeling him too liberal.
Negative political ads are nothing new, but they are making the game messier.
“This particular situation is propaganda, complete propaganda,” said CD-20 candidate Sheriff Mike Boudreaux in an interview with 17 News Tuesday morning.
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All is fair when it comes to politics, some may argue; part of that game is advertisements.
But what about when third parties get involved?
In the CD-20 race, attack ads have been circulating, including a mailer targeting Boudreaux as a “liberal politician.”
But that mailer is an independent expenditure by the Central Valley Values Political Action Committee, meaning it was “not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee,” as disclosed in the ad.