In certain Reno neighborhoods, the mailers for the Democratic Assembly District 27 primary race have come in waves. At first, both candidates were promoted, and then some of the mailers linked Brian Lee to the Republican Party and Donald Trump.
These anti-Lee mailers were signed as paid for by Strategic Horizons PAC, a group funded by the Clark County Education Association union.
The pro and anti Brian Lee mailers started inundating mailboxes. Then in similar color and font scheme to the anti-Lee mailers, the anti-Angie Taylor mailers began. It was hard to see where these came from, but in the top right corner, in barely legible font, these read: Paid for by the Committee to Elect Brian Lee.
And then the trickle turned into a deluge.
We contacted both candidates to find out more. Lee whose Twitter bio reads “Executive Director at the Nevada State Education Association, President and Former Chair of Battle Born Progress, Member of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and Education/Human Rights Attorney” chose to respond by email.
Taylor, a Hug High School graduate and small business owner, who just survived a recall effort from the far-right Operation Sunlight, as Washoe School County District School Board Trustee Chair talked to us over the phone.
The above mailer in favor of Brian Lee says it was paid for by “Strong Public Schools Nevada”
Lee started out his email speaking of the mailers attacking him: “I don't really have much more to say about the false and misleading flyers that were sent by Republican Donors from Las Vegas,” he wrote.
He pointed us to a recent Nevada Current article where he was quoted but his opponent initially wasn’t. A few Taylor quotes have since been added at the bottom. In that article Lee is quoted as saying: “I’m a progressive. I’ve always been a progressive. That I’m a Trump Republican is a damn lie.”
In the Nevada Current article it states Lee registered as Republican in 2015 “to try to get Trump defeated in the primary.” It goes on to say that he changed his party affiliation to Democrat in 2020, so he could vote in the Democratic primaries.
“As for my reply mailers. I have included sources,” he emailed us. “The Shady Republic PAC that is falsely attacking me has donated $250,000 to a Republican-backed ballot initiative which would take away our right to vote in Democratic Primaries for state and statewide elections. The Republican donor behind that PAC supports a Republican in Elko who is anti-mask and a Republican in Las Vegas who is against raising the minimum wage--as well as a Republican Trump Appointee for the state Senate. As detailed in the Nevada Current story, the PAC is also engaged in racist dog whistles informing my supporters via a door knocking campaign that I should "go back to where I came from," which as an Asian-American is a phrase I have heard many times in my life, but I never expected it to become a central tenet of a political campaign. I have resided in Washoe County for seven years--first in Sparks and now in Reno. This is my home. I know that my friends and neighbors will not fall for these false and racist attacks.”
When asked about the more recent flyer linking Taylor to Republicans, from his own election committee, he wrote back: “My opponent, Angie Taylor, has received $10,000 from a donor who also supports an extremist Republican candidate from Elko who is anti-mask and another Republican candidate from Las Vegas was a member of the Trump Administration. No Washoe Progressive groups or labor unions have endorsed my opponent. Every progressive group and Washoe labor union which endorsed in this race have endorsed me. I am the Progressive Choice in this race. I have not received any donations from Republican Donors.”
This mailer above was paid for by Friends for Angie.
“From my standpoint, really take a look at what's coming from my campaign. My campaign and I are absolutely committed to run a positive campaign, and talk about what I think I bring,” Taylor told us over the phone about her own strategy. “I can certainly understand, some confusion with accusations going back and forth but I don't have anything to do with it,” she said citing repeatedly she is not connected to Strategic Horizons PAC. “That’s his choice,” Taylor said of flyers attacking her, referring to her opponent.
She wanted to emphasize she has more contributions from Democrats than from Republicans.
“I don't ask people their political affiliation if they decide to contribute to my campaign,” she said giving more detail. “I do have broad based support. I've been involved in this community for a long time. I've worked with many people in this community for a long time. I'm honored to have the support from people who know me, they've worked with me… However, I will say, based upon what I know, I have received more contributions from people who are Democrats, far more contributions from people who are Democrats, than from those who are Republicans. So … just to say Republican funded is just not true. To say that Washoe teachers oppose me is also not true. In fact, I do have teachers that have contributed to my campaign, so that can't be a true statement.”
Despite the recall effort she just survived, and the new negative mailers, Taylor says she’s resolute in serving in public offices and running for the Assembly.
“You still focus on the why. People have said, you know, by rejecting the recall, that they do want to teach the full story of the history of our country. They do want to talk about those things that are strong, but they also want to talk about the things that have been wrong. That's the best… I'm always going to stand for our students. I'm always going to stand for equity and providing a quality education for all students. And the recall wanted to call that out, but the community said, ‘no, that's what we should be doing.’ And I'm grateful for that. You stay focused on the why because it's important. Education is important. Our state is important. Moving forward together is important. And that's what keeps me going,” she concluded.
As we were writing this article, more flyers were dropped in the mailbox, one blaring “Get the Facts”, the other topped with “Have you seen the attacks?” perhaps confusing more voters, while sample ballots and official ballots were also delivered. State Assembly, District 27, Two (2) Year Term / Vote for One, the sample ballot read: LEE, Brian or TAYLOR, Angela. Then the official election ballot arrived, and for confused Democrats, it was time to make their primary choice.