314 Action, a group dedicated to electing Democrats with science backgrounds, will launch a $250,000 texting and digital ad campaign focused on GOP senators in eight states, according to details shared first with The Hill.
Starting Monday, the texting campaign will send a “Public Health Alert” warning that Kennedy has been trying to rewrite his record by claiming he’s not anti-vaccine. It will ask people to call GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), John Curtis (Utah), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Joni Ernst (Iowa).
The digital ad connects RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine activism in Samoa to the country's deadly measles outbreak and notes Kennedy has made millions from lawsuits targeting vaccines, specifically over Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
His ethics agreement with the federal government would allow him to keep his financial stake in the litigation against Gardasil maker Merck if he is confirmed.
“Allowing Robert F. Kennedy to maintain a financial stake in anti-vaccine lawsuits while running our nation’s Health and Human Services department is unethical and dangerously irresponsible,” Shaughnessy Naughton, the president and founder of 314 Action, said in a statement.
Earlier this month, 314 Action joined Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) and Democratic doctors in the House to warn against RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine stance.
Kennedy faces a Senate panel Wednesday for his confirmation hearing. That panel, the Finance Committee, is expected to advance his nomination to the floor, where he can lose only three Republican votes if every Democrat opposes him.
The Senate health panel, chaired by Cassidy, will also hold a hearing with Kennedy on Thursday.
No Republican has spoken against Kennedy’s nomination, but some have criticized his views and past remarks on vaccines.
Kennedy has been meeting with senators in recent weeks, telling them he isn’t opposed to vaccines, he just merely has some questions about the evidence of their safety.
A Kennedy spokeswoman said on X last week he’s met with half of the Senate.
