A new ad in a contentious state Senate battle accuses Republican candidate Victoria Seaman of being one of controversial Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy's "biggest cheerleaders."
The digital ad, titled "Vicki's World," is being released today and accuses Seaman of supporting Bundy, voting against education funding and wanted to cut women's healthcare.
Democratic candidate Nicole Cannizzaro is responsible for the ad, and is facing off against Seaman in a competitive battle for the open State Senate District 6. Republicans currently hold a one-seat majority in the state Senate, and both parties consider the district to be one of a handful of races that will determine control of the Senate.
Seaman co-sponsored a bill during the 2015 Legislature that was widely referred to as the "Cliven Bundy" bill, and would have attempted to expand state control over federally controlled lands in Nevada. The Republican Assemblywoman appeared at a rally with Bundy in Carson City in support of the bill, but ultimately voted against the measure after it was heavily amended and criticized by legislative legal staff for being unconstitutional.
The ad also claims Seaman opposed Gov. Brian Sandoval's 2015 proposal to raise taxes to increase K-12 education funding, and that she called it "one of the worst things to ever happen" in state history.
Seaman's remarks were directed toward the state's controversial new Commerce Tax, and the Republican did vote against the overall tax proposal supported by Sandoval. But Seaman's campaign manager, Ryan Hamilton, said she supported Sandoval's individual education initiatives and voted to approve the state's full budget.
"When she's done with her crayons and cartoons, maybe Nicole can tell the voters why she wants to regulate Uber and Lyft out of business in Nevada or why she plans to lock children in Nevada in failing schools," he said in an email. "Victoria has a record she's proud of--she voted to fund Sandoval's education budget, voting with him on nearly every crucial reform to our schools."
Democratic Senate Caucus director Peter Koltak said in a statement that the ad was accurate.
"Seaman can kick and scream all she wants, but the facts are the facts," he said. "She is anti-education, she has publicly supported criminal rancher Cliven Bundy, and she wants to slash basic access to healthcare for Nevada women."
The Nevada Jobs Coalition, a Republican-linked PAC supporting Republican state Senate candidates, has also released several digital ads attacking Cannizzaro and supporting candidates including Seaman.
"Vicki's World"
