Democrats Defend Senate Race Mailer With GOP Candidate and School Kids on Shooting Targets

Published Oct. 26, 2022, 8:59 a.m. ET | Updated Oct. 26, 2022

Democrat mailer

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Florida’s Senate Democrat Leader defended a controversial Democrat-funded senate race mailer that depicted a GOP candidate, school kids, and a teacher on shooting targets.

The mailer was an attack ad against Republican candidate Corey Simon in the Senate District 3 race against Democrat incumbent Loranne Ausley. Republican leaders and parents who lost children in the Parkland shooting have since harshly criticized the mailer.

It was paid for by the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which City & State reports is led by Democrat Sen. Lauren Book.

“The extreme GOP are the ones who put the targets on the backs of children,” Book said. “Let’s not feign how how over the top ridiculous a piece of mail is. Let’s talk about the policies that they want to bring forward that puts the targets on the backs of children and makes them unsafe.”

On one side of the mailer, it portrays Simon on a shooting target with bullets scattered underneath and next to a weapon. The back of the mailer shows two kids and a teacher on a shooting target with the words “don’t let extremists like Corey Simon turn our schools into shooting ranges.”

Simon has said he supports the Guardian Program which allows certain armed and trained personnel to protect students at schools.

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Republicans Call on Democrats to Denounce ‘Disgusting’ Mailer of GOP Candidate on Shooting Target

The mailer was brought up by a reporter during a press conference with several Democrat leaders and candidates Monday where they announced the Democrat’s “Florida Freedom Tour.” At that time, Book claimed Simon is “nowhere to be found,” citing the Tallahassee NAACP President’s comments.

The Corey Simon campaign provided Florida’s Voice with a statement:

Senate Democrats are right to be concerned about how well Corey Simon is resonating with North Florida voters. Loranne Ausley supports abortion without limits, boys in girls’ sports, and taxpayer-funded sex changes for minors. She has adopted the radical agenda embraced by Democrats from Joe Biden to Charlie Crist, down to the Senate Democrat’s dream team of candidates who have aligned with anti-cop hate groups like Florida Rising. With out-of-touch nonsense like this, Lauren Book and Loranne Ausley are going to need a hell of a lot more than a shooting target and a wanted poster to take out Corey Simon.

Corey Simon Campaign Statement

Democrat gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist was asked about the mailer earlier in October.

“We can do better,” Crist said briefly when Florida’s Voice asked him at a campaign stop.

Charlie Crist Responds to Democrat-Funded Senate Race Mailer Showing Kids on Shooting Targets: ‘We Can Do Better’

Republican State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the senate president designate, called on Book to denounce the mailer in early October.

“That basic call for humanity shouldn’t have to wait until after the election. Minority Leader Book should denounce this mailer and hold accountable those who are responsible for its disgusting content immediately,” Passidomo said.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters called on Florida Democrat Party Chairman Manny Diaz to denounce the ad because it puts “Corey Simon and others’ safety at risk.”

Republican Rep. Webster Barnaby and GOP nominee for state Rep. Berny Jacques released a joint statement Thursday saying the “divisive” and “ignorant” use of a black man on a shooting target “has no place in civil political discourse.”

“We may not see eye-to-eye on everything, but surely we can agree that political disagreement should never include dangerous imagery of a black man being used for target practice,” the joint statement said.

Corey Simon and Loranne Ausley Debate in Senate District 3 Race

Simon previously served as CEO of Volunteer Florida and began a success center to mentor the underserved population. He brought up the mailers during a debate with his opponent in October.

“This latest attack on me from my opponent put children on targets with gun shot, with gun holes in them. Put me on a target,” Simon said. “In this current environment where we just had a 40 year old man run down an 18 year old kid for his political stance, I think that is a bridge too far.”

Ausley has served in the state legislature since 2000 and has served on a variety of boards for organizations. She was asked during the debate whether she approved the mailer and knew if it was going out.

“My campaign is not responsible for the mail piece. As you said it was put out by the Democratic Party. I have no control over what they send out,” Ausley said.

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