In his first TV ad in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, businessman Brian Varela highlights his background as the son of Colombian immigrants and pledges to “dismantle Trump’s ICE, stop for-profit detention centers, [and] end forever wars.”
Varela, one of four Democrats seeking the nomination against Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) in one of the country’s most competitive districts, said the ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on cable, streaming, and digital. (As of the end of the last fundraising quarter, Varela had $1.3 million in his campaign account, most of it self-funded.)
“My parents came here from Colombia and built a life from nothing, and the families I see in our district every day remind me of them,” Varela said in a statement accompanying the ad. “They are working, paying taxes, raising kids, and contributing to our communities. They do not deserve to live in fear of being snatched up on the way to work.”
Two of Varela’s foes, former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett and physician Tina Shah, have also put out ads introducing themselves to voters. A veterans-focused outside group, VoteVets, is on the air as well with a pro-Bennett spot; after initially announcing a $200,000 spend in the race, VoteVets said today that its investment has increased to $400,000.
Script
Varela: “What will they remember of this time? So much hatred and fear. They remind me of me. I’m Brian Varela. My parents were Colombian immigrants – nothing came easy. I worked my way through college, and I’m giving something back. I can defeat Tom Kean Jr. and dismantle Trump’s ICE, stop for-profit detention centers, end forever wars, and use the savings to reduce costs at home.”
