Virginia Republican’s ad ties opponent to MS-13. Democrats compare it to ‘Willie Horton’

By Laura Vozzella and Fenit Nirappil September 20 at 9:22 PM



Republican Ed Gillespie released this campaign ad Sept. 20. Gillespie is running against Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in the Virginia governor’s race. (Ed Gillespie/YouTube)

RICHMOND — Ed Gillespie, who for years pressed fellow Republicans to make their party more welcoming to minorities, on Wednesday unveiled a hard-hitting TV ad that blames his Democratic rival for Virginia governor for the resurgence of the MS-13 street gang.

As the MS-13 motto “Kill, Rape, Control” flashes across the screen, the ad criticizes Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for voting against a bill that would have prohibited the establishment of “sanctuary cities” in the state.

“MS-13 is a menace, yet Ralph Northam voted in favor of sanctuary cities that let dangerous illegal immigrants back on the street, increasing the threat of MS-13,” a narrator says. “Ralph Northam’s policies are dangerous.”

The 30-second spot intersperses photos of Northam with the tattooed faces of men who, as it turns out, were photographed in a prison in El Salvador. Gillespie spokesman David Abrams said he would inquire about the provenance of the photo.

“Ralph Northam: Increasing the threat of MS-13,” reads text across the screen.
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Laura Vozzella covers Virginia politics for The Washington Post. Follow @LVozzella

Fenit Nirappil covers politics and government in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. He previously covered the California statehouse and suburban government outside Portland, Ore. Follow @FenitN