Conservative group debuts major ad buy in key senators’ states as ‘soft appeal’ for Hegseth, Gabbard, Patel

A prominent conservative grassroots group is launching a substantial ad campaign to support the swift confirmation of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominees. The $150,000 campaign will target nine states with a “soft appeal” to voters, encouraging them to contact their senators and emphasize that Trump “has a mandate from the American people.”

Heritage Action for America Vice President Ryan Walker announced on Thursday that this initial $150,000 investment is just the beginning of a larger $1 million allocation through Inauguration Day to urge Americans to urge their senators to support the nominees. The first ad of the campaign will focus on boosting Defense Secretary-nominee Pete Hegseth, with the overall ad buy lasting through December 31.

In addition to Hegseth, the campaign will also highlight former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and former Florida Attorney General Pamela Bondi – all of whom are Trump Cabinet nominees. The targeted states for the initial ad buy include Alaska, Maine, Louisiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Utah, South Dakota, and Washington, D.C.

While most advertising campaigns typically target swing states or specific regions, the selection of states in this campaign is strategic. Some of the states included are home to senators who have not firmly committed to supporting or opposing nominees like Hegseth, Gabbard, and Patel. Notably, Alaska and Maine are represented by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, both moderate Republicans who have shown some support for Trump’s policies despite voting to impeach him.

Walker emphasized the urgency of confirming these nominees promptly, as Trump has a limited time frame to push his agenda forward before the midterms. By uniting the Republican conference around the nominees, Heritage Action aims to expedite the confirmation process. The group will closely monitor public commentary from senators in the target states and adjust the campaign focus accordingly.

The ad campaign will also utilize a direct-text-message strategy following the initial digital ads. Plans for a television ad to air on national media on Inauguration Day are also in the works. Heritage Action’s grassroots activists across the country will continue to advocate for conservative principles at the state-government level.

This initiative underscores the group’s commitment to supporting Trump’s Cabinet nominees and ensuring their swift confirmation. By engaging voters in key states and urging them to contact their senators, Heritage Action aims to bolster the president-elect’s team and advance his agenda in the early days of his term.