Enviro Group Launches Attack Ads Against Don Young

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is under fire from an environmental group with a record of successfully targeting vulnerable Republicans.

The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund launched television and radio ads Wednesday against Young, attacking him over “abusing his office for personal gain” and for “refusing to protect Alaska from global warming.”

The television ad, airing in the Anchorage media market, is the second round of television spots against GOP incumbents this election cycle. They aired ads in June and July against Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Calif,), Rick Renzi (R-Ariz), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Steve Pearce (R-N.M) and John Doolittle (R-Calif.) touching on similar themes.

Last cycle, they helped oust former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), who was also accused of ethical improprieties, spending over $1 million in ads and direct mail against him.

As was the case with Pombo, the environmental group’s primary message in the advertisement focuses on Young’s ethics, and not his positions on the environment. The ad does, however, label Young as the only member in the Alaskan delegation not working to reduce global warming.

Young is under investigation by the Justice Department over his ties to oil-field services company Veco Corp. He spent more in legal fees than he raised this past fundraising quarter.