A progressive group, Demand Justice, has launched a six-figure advertising campaign aimed at two Democratic senators, urging them to support judicial candidates whose positions on the 2020 election have seemed unclear.
Demand Justice, which champions a liberal vision for federal judiciary appointments, criticized Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) for their recent votes favoring two judicial nominees put forth by President Trump.
Ads targeting Durbin include messages like, “Senator Durbin voted for Judge Trump, who lied about January 6th. What is Senator Durbin thinking?” Similar phrasing is used in ads focused on Coons.
The campaign utilizes digital billboards, banner advertisements, and traditional media as well. Ads centered around Durbin are set to run in Chicago and Springfield, while Coons-focused ads will appear in cities across Delaware, including Dover and Wilmington.
Earlier this month, both senators were part of a group of six Democrats who voted to advance Harold Muty’s nomination for the Northern Alabama district. Additionally, Durbin and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) supported the nomination of Alabama’s Billy Wayne Lewis.
In a questionnaire, Muty acknowledged Joe Biden as the 46th president but described it as “inappropriate” to engage in broader discussions regarding the 2020 election. When asked if he condemned the events of January 6th, he denounced violence against law enforcement yet refrained from additional commentary, citing the contentious nature of the topic.
Demand Justice criticized Lewis for not directly addressing the 2020 election results, suggesting that doing so reflects a form of loyalty to Trump. While President Biden won the election, Trump has persistently propagated unfounded claims that it was rigged against him.
Durbin has announced he won’t seek reelection at the end of his term in 2026, while Coons is up for reelection then but has yet to clarify his intentions.
This ad campaign underscores the dissatisfaction among some Democrats who feel their party members aren’t doing enough to confront Trump’s administration.
Last week, Demand Justice introduced Josh Orton, a former aide to Vice President Harris and Senator Bernie Sanders, as its new president. Orton expressed his commitment to holding Democrats accountable for their actions regarding Trump and emphasized the importance of grassroots opposition to his nominations and challenges to the rule of law.
