Richmond, Va. — Millions in anonymous MAGA money has poured into Virginia in recent days to support the ‘NO’ campaign opposing the April 21 referendum, fueling a misinformation campaign aimed at confusing voters across the Commonwealth. This has included paid communications outright lying about Governor Spanberger’s public approval of the YES Campaign, as well as offensive and deceptive mailers sent to about Black voters across Virginia.
“This week alone, more than $3 million in MAGA dark money has flooded into Virginia to fund misinformation and offensive tactics designed to scare and confuse voters,” said Dan Gottlieb, Communications Director for the YES Campaign. “When anonymous MAGA groups with hidden donors start pouring millions into a campaign built on deception, it tells you everything you need to know about what the ‘NO’ campaign is trying to do. Virginians deserve honest information — not dark money and misinformation designed to manipulate this election. Vote YES to stop Trump’s power grab and level the playing field.”
This week alone, $2.5 million in undisclosed funds appeared backing the ‘NO’ campaign, which has since announced its first paid media buy.
At the same time, Justice for Democracy PAC — another arm of the ‘NO’ campaign targeting voters with misinformation — received $425,000 from American Future Fund, a longtime right-wing dark money organization that was among the largest corporate-backed conservative spending groups of the 2010s and supported efforts to elect Donald Trump. The fund is now misrepresenting Governor Spanberger’s endorsement of the YES Campaign.
Earlier this week, a MAGA-aligned group opposing the referendum distributed offensive and deceptive mailers targeting Black voters across Virginia, misusing imagery from the Civil Rights Movement and even invoking Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan in an attempt to scare voters into opposing the measure.
The tactic was widely condemned across the Commonwealth, including by the Virginia NAACP, Attorney General Jones, members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, and community leaders statewide.
Early voting is already underway across the Commonwealth. Election Day is April 21.
For more information, visit www.virginiansforfairelections.com.
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