Trump Jr. and Ted Nugent say Utah's anti-gerrymandering law threatens the Second Amendment
What do gun rights have to do with Utah’s gerrymandering fight? If you ask Donald Trump Jr. and Ted Nugent, everything.
The two Republican celebrities cut ads on behalf of Hunter Nation, urging Utahns to sign the repeal petition before the Feb. 15 deadline. Both sit on the board of the Kansas-based pro-hunting group.
The ads warn that gun rights are on the chopping block unless Utahns overturn Prop. 4, the law that set up an independent redistricting commission.
“By signing to repeal Proposition 4, you will be defending our hunting heritage, our Second Amendment rights, and keeping outside interests from interfering in Utah,” the ad script reads.
The reference to “outside interests” is curious. Hunter Nation is based in Kansas, and the signature drive to put the Prop. 4 repeal on the ballot is largely funded by Securing American Greatness, a Florida-based dark money group that has put in $4.35 million so far.
It’s unclear who funded the ads, as they appear to lack the required disclosures under Utah law. The Meta Ad Library shows the group has spent about $7,000 on three versions of the ads since they began running last week.
Hunter Nation did not respond to questions from Utah Political Watch.
Utah GOP Chairman Rob Axson, who heads up Utahns for Representative Government, the group behind the Prop. 4 repeal signature drive, says Hunter Nation produced the ads independently, but he appreciates the support.
“Clearly it is their belief that the interests of hunters on issues like the 2nd amendment will not be as well served in Congress as a result of this map being forced on the state,” Axson said.
Axson added the campaign didn’t pay Hunter Nation, Trump, or Nugent for the ads.
Prop. 4 signature update
The campaign had another strong day on Thursday, adding 3,192 signatures. t’s the first time since November they’ve topped 3,000 new signatures two days in a row.
They currently have 85,019 verified signatures, which is just over 60% of the way toward the statewide requirement of 140,748 to qualify for the ballot. They need 55,729 more.
The main problem for organizers is reaching the signature requirements in 26 state Senate districts. So far, they’ve cleared the bar in just four.
Complicating that equation are Utahns who are asking to have their signatures removed from petitions. Another 119 signatures came off the rolls yesterday, according to verification data. The total number of removals since Jan. 23 is 663.
The deadline for submitting signatures is Sunday, but county clerks have 21 days to complete the verification process, which could stretch until March 7.
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