As the Democratic primaries are winding down, the rhetoric between campaigns is at a fevered pitch. One of the more contested races is the 2nd District House of Delegates between incumbent Delegate Candi King and her opponent Pamela Montgomery. What began as a respectful campaign between the two has now become a microcosm in the influence of outside corporations.

Clean Virginia, an organization whose mission is, according to their website, to “advance clean government and clean energy by fighting utility monopoly corruption in Virginia politics.” However, their strategy of creating division within campaigns, particularly with Black and Brown candidates, has become even more evident as they have, according to VPAP, funneled more than $145,300 into Montgomery’s campaign. In addition, she has received $270,000 from Sonjia Smith, who owns the PAC, as well as $130,000 from Commonwealth Forward, another PAC that is exclusively funded by the Clean Virginia Fund. King, who was not endorsed by Clean Virginia, has become the target of recent attack ads. Today, Dumfries Councilwoman Selonia Miles, released the following statement in support of King:

“As a leader in the community, I have repeatedly cautioned that our democracy is fragile and that we each has a responsibility to defend it. It is for this reason that I cannot remain silent about the billionaires who have set up shop in Prince William County and seek to take down one of our leaders because she refused to pledge fealty to them. Apparently, the punishment for pledging your loyalty to your community instead of billionaires is a primary opponent financed to the tune of $600,000 who repeatedly attacks you reputation and creates falsehoods.”

“When the King campaign finally responded and exposed these fraudulent claims and outsiders, multiple articles were written and people were outraged by the ‘mudslinging on both sides.’ We as Democrats know better than this both sides narrative. It is dangerous and it is the same rhetoric that is launched against us when we defend ourselves in general elections. The tactics that have been deployed against Delegate King in this primary are reminiscent of Koch Brother tactics. If anyone dared disagree with their agenda, they financed someone who would do their bidding. The Republican Party did not just implode one day. It happened because people who knew better did not intervene and before they knew it things got out of control. We cannot sit idly by and allow outside influencers with their own agendas to destroy our leaders and our party.”