FL-19: High Tech Last Minute Hit on Primary Election Day

While likely to only work in a very crowded primary field with multiple top-tier candidates in statistical tie for the lead, FL-19 election day stunt may be portend of things to come

Those who have been around election politics for any length of time know to be on guard for the 11th hour attack/hit piece sent by an opponent in the mail so late the attacked candidate does not have time to respond. Many a campaign will warn supporters to beware of “last minute attacks” as election day nears. While snail mail and all the vote-by-mail going on limits effectiveness of last minute mailers, as Florida congressional candidate Byron Donalds tweet shows from 8:43AM CDT the “last minute attack” taking on new forms.

Today is primary election day in the state of Florida, as well as Alaska, and in Florida, the most purple/swing state in the country, there are multiple competitive congressional primaries. The FL-19 is a district in southwest Florida that has multiple Illinois ties, including 14th congressional district nominee spouse Mrs. Jim Oberweis, who has claimed residency in Bonita Springs for the past 10 years.

Given the FL-19 is a very red district that will not be in play in the fall, the winner of the winner-take-all Republican primary today will win a seat in Congress in November. This has drawn a field of 9 candidates, and while most of them are impressive with terrific backgrounds and life experiences, the race over the summer has turned into a race with four top-tier candidates, and five also-rans.

Florida State Representative Byron Donalds is one of the leading candidates in this tight race which, according to most recent independent public polling earlier this month, had a 3-way statistical tie for the lead and a 4th candidate just outside the margin-of-error to be top candidate.

Mr. Donalds, a former TEA Party activist first elected to public office in 2016 after some losses, has seen the most positive momentum come his way, particularly when he won the National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsement scoring an “A+” rating, thanks in large part to his vote against raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21 in the wake of the Parklands shooting two years ago.

Donalds has also been endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Action and the Club for Growth, which has poured over $2 million of Independent Expenditure spending in addition to the $1.3 million Donalds has raised. Donalds also won the endorsement of the TEA Party Express and Senator Rand Paul (R, KY).

So on primary election day morning, this text hit voters throughout the district (all times, Eastern time):

The phone number sending the text is spoofed, so no worries about privacy. Clicking the link in the text (after sender’s FYI to the campaign) an image is displayed:

And here is the YouTube account referenced in the text that turned out to be a fake YouTube account created this morning:

So on election morning, an elaborate set of high-tech fake messages has been assembled, as The Daily Beast‘s Lachlan Markay best explains in this transcribed tweet:

“This is wild. Texts going out from a spoofed number linking to a fake press release claiming this FL House candidate is withdrawing. The link goes to a YouTube video uploaded by an account created today, and featuring news footage of Donalds withdrawing from a 2012 race”

Lachlan Markay via Twitter 8/18/20
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Florida attorney Ben Gibson tweeted the following from a legal standpoint:

“Knowingly sending a false text message to voters ON ELECTION DAY claiming a candidate has dropped out is not only everything that is wrong about politics but has potentially severe criminal and civil penalties associated with it.

“Itโ€™s a 3rd degree felony under Florida law to knowingly use false information to keep someone from voting or to interfere with the right of someone to vote for the candidate of their choice.

“There are also potential civil penalties for making false statements about opposing candidates.

“More should be done to prevent these dirty tactics. Run on the issues not on lies.”

Ben Gibson tweets 8/18/20
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And while writing this article, Club for Growth Vice President of Government Affairs Scott T. Parkinson tweeted the following:

“Important Twitter thread from one of the best attorneys in the State of Florida, Ben Gibson re: false texts claiming Byron Donalds had dropped out of the race this morning. Byron is in it to win it!

Scott T. Parksinson of Club for Growth tweet
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So for a good diversion from the Democratic National Convention broadcast of pre-recorded speeches, please keep an eye on the Florida election returns, particularly in the 19th district of Florida. In addition to Donalds, the other major candidates who are vying for the win are:

  • Kousay “Casey” Askar — Iraqi born and owner of successful restaurant business franchises in Michigan and Florida, Illinois connection inside Askar campaign as political consultant to former IL-14 candidate Catalina Lauf is the campaign spox for Askar, who put over $3 million of his own money earlier this year to win, or as opponents claim, “buy” the seat.
  • Dr. William Figlesthaler — “Dr. Fig” is a successful doctor with several clinics, has donated $2 million of own money into race, and his multiple marriages (4 times) with latest wife younger than his daughters have portrayed his campaign as “mid-life crisis”
  • Dane Eagle — Florida House Majority Leader and the leading Millennial in the race. Seen as the establishment candidate, and has the support of Senator Marco Rubio among others.

For more information about the other candidates, please see Ballotpedia.

Finally, for disclosure, there are several Super PACs in addition to Club for Growth active in FL-19, some aligned with Askar and others with Eagle. Here is what Askar’s aligned super PAC did to me in Twitter that was noticed on August 3, which is a badge of honor:

Twitter block against John Lopez

To date, no candidate has blocked me in Twitter and won, and today, three candidates in Florida will likely find out the same (FL-19, and two in FL-22).


Comments

FL-19: High Tech Last Minute Hit on Primary Election Day — 7 Comments

  1. This is example of why I say any kind of voting can be fraudulent. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ˜

  2. The description of “Dr. Fig” was funny.

    “Dane Eagle” lol

    Florida is one weird state.

    Laura Loomer won a primary there.

    So did Anna Luna.

  3. Another interesting thing that happened tonight in Florida: it looks like a Republican incumbent named Ross Spano lost his primary to a challenger named Scott Franklin.

    Franklin had been endorsed by Matt Gaetz (who won his own primary with over 80 percent of the vote).

    And Spano was under federal investigation.

  4. Articles are coming, as McHenry County Blog did play a part in tracking down the who was responsible for the fake texts.

    The perps didn’t even bother to cover their tracks.

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