CUNA and Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC), its federal PAC, announced Thursday support for four incumbents in tight November races for the U.S. House of Representatives with targeted political advertising.

For over 40 years, CULAC and CUNA have been the credit union movement’s strong political backbone, engaging in strategic member communications and independent expenditures (IEs).

“We don’t choose candidates by their partisan affiliation,” said Trey Hawkins, CUNA Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer for Political Action. “Like every candidate we support, these four credit union champions have recognized and supported policies that ensure their constituents can access people-over-profit financial services.”

Of note:

• Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) is supported through direct mail and digital video ads targeting credit union members.
• Credit union voters in Illinois are also receiving direct mail and digital video ads in support of Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.). 
• In New Jersey’s Ocean and Burlington Counties, targeted voters will receive CULAC digital ads and mail pieces in support of Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.).
• Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) is benefiting from targeted digital ads and direct mail to voters in southern New Mexico.

“As the election cycle heats up and voters tune out the attack ads, our focus on delivering positive messages to select voters in these districts helps to creating a welcome, meaningful difference for the candidates we’re supporting,” Hawkins added.

These efforts are part of a $7 million investment by CUNA, CULAC, and the state credit union leagues in support of over 350 congressional candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Last week, CUNA announced support for incumbent candidates in four Senate races: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.).

CUNA also launched Credit Unions Vote earlier this year. Credit Unions Vote is focused on getting the nation’s 120 million credit union members to vote in the November elections. Recent data indicates that 1 in 3 Americans are credit union members and 44% of registered voters belong to a credit union.