Washington, D.C./Richmond, Virginia — Today, People For the American Way, in partnership with the campaign for gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, announced the release of the second in a series of Spanish language radio ads focused on increasing Latino turnout in support of Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe in Virginia’s gubernatorial election. The campaign kicked off on September 9, with radio ads slated to run on Spanish-language radio stations across the commonwealth through Election Day on November 2.

The new ad begins airing today and highlights Terry McAuliffe’s plan to strengthen Virginia’s economy. The ad notes that McAuliffe created hundreds of thousands of good jobs in his previous term as governor. It includes McAuliffe’s pledges to increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and ensure paid sick leave for all. The ad also emphasizes the contrast between McAuliffe’s plans to build a stronger economy with Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin’s opposition to a minimum wage increase and his economic plan, which would cut funding for education.

The first ad, released earlier this month, contrasts the Republican candidate’s dangerous positions surrounding the management of the COVID pandemic with McAuliffe’s responsible, science-based, and economically centered approach to move Virginia forward.

Early voting in Virginia began on Friday, September 17.

• Listen to the newly released ad on Virginia’s economy here.
• Listen to the first ad on handling of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

“The choice in this race is clear,” said President of People For the American Way Ben Jealous. “Either Virginians vote for Terry McAuliffe, the candidate who believes in progressive economic principles like raising wages and providing medical leave, or Virginians vote for the other candidate, who wants to cut services, allow workers to be paid a poverty wage, and move Virginia backwards after years of progress. We know that when Latino voters in the state see the difference between these two candidates, casting a ballot for Terry McAuliffe will be an easy decision. That’s why we’re running this ad across the state from now through election day.”

“With our broad coalition of support from Latino supporters across Virginia, we will create a stronger economy and lift up families across the Commonwealth. That means increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour, ensuring paid sick days for all, and getting all eligible Virginians vaccinated against COVID-19. I know we can do it, because we’ve done it before,” said Terry McAuliffe. “As governor, I led Virginia’s economic recovery, creating over 200,000 good jobs, lowering unemployment in every city and county, and raising personal income by 14 percent. Now, I have a plan to create even more good-paying jobs, lower the rising costs of health care, and create a world-class education for every child in Virginia. These issues are on the ballot this November. Together we can get this done.”

“Latino voters are critically important in Virginia,” said People For the American Way Board member Dolores Huerta. “In this election, people will be looking for leadership in building an equitable economy as we continue to fight the COVID pandemic. Terry McAuliffe knows the pandemic has created special hardships for workers, especially women and people in essential jobs – which includes many Latino workers. His economic plan focuses on the needs of working families first. That means a lot to Latinos in Virginia and we are excited about getting the word out to voters to support Terry McAuliffe.”

Ad Script in Spanish:

El voto por adelantado ha empezado en la elección para gobernador en Virginia y ¡muchos ya están votando!

El candidato demócrata Terry McAuliffe luchará por familias trabajadoras. Cuando fuegobernador en el 2013, creó 200,000 trabajos con buen pago.

Él aumentará el sueldo mínimo a $15 la hora y quiere que todos tengamos días deenfermedad pagados. Y Terry está apoyado por el Presidente Biden.

Mientras tanto, el candidato republicano, quien promueve la mentira que Trump ganóla presidencia, nos haría la vida más difícil. Dijo que cualquier sueldo mínimo era “innecesario”.

Quiere cortar servicios para la salud y educación – hasta eliminar fondos para el pre-kinder ¡y se opuso a  los cheques de estímulo!

No podemos dejar que Virginia retroceda. Votemos hoy por el demócrata Terry McAuliffe para gobernador.

Pagado por People For the American Way y autorizado por Terry para Virginia.

English Translation:

Early voting has started in the race for the Governor of Virginia, and many are already voting!

The Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe will fight for working families. When he was governor in 2013, he created 200,000 good-paying jobs.

He’ll increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour and he wants everyone to have paid medical leave. And Terry is supported by President Biden.

Meanwhile, the Republican candidate, who promotes the lie that Trump won the presidency, would make our lives more difficult. He said that any minimum wage is “unnecessary.”

He wants to cut services for health and education – even eliminating funding for pre-k, and he opposed the stimulus checks!

We can’t let Virginia move backwards. Let’s vote today for Democrat Terry McAuliffe for Governor.

Paid for by People For the American Way and authorized by Terry for Virginia.

About Latinos Vote

People For the American Way’s Latinos Vote! program exposes and counters anti-immigrant, anti-Latino rhetoric and policies. Through electoral work and issue-based campaigns, we hold groups, leaders and influencers accountable for the harm they do to immigrant and Latino communities. For nearly ten years, we’ve run bilingual paid and earned media campaigns in swing states where the Latino vote can be decisive.

El programa Latinos Vote! de People For the American Way expone y combate laretórica y las políticas anti-inmigrantes y anti-latinos. Nuestro programa se organizamediante trabajo electoral y campañas basadas en temas especificos. En estas areashacemos responsables a los grupos, líderes y a personas de influencia por el daño quecausan a las comunidades inmigrantes y latinas. Por casi diez años, hemos realizadocampañas pagadas y logrado campañas ganadas en medios bilingües destinadas aganar en los estados claves donde el voto latino puede ser decisivo.

 About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.