IMPOSTER GAME: A new ad from GOP Rep. John Duarte touts the endorsements of “Central Valley Democrat leaders.” The problem? At least eight people in the ad are actually Republicans. The spot, which started running this week in the battleground House district CA-13, opens with three local officials introducing themselves as Democrats, followed by three more praising Duarte for being a farmer and “caring about people like us.” Playbook took a closer look and found that the three elected officials who give direct-to-camera testimonials — but don’t explicitly introduce themselves as Democrats — are registered Republicans, according to state records. The spot also features a shot of cheering supporters with the words “Valley Democrat leaders endorse John Duarte” emblazoned across the screen. At least four people in that crowd are easily identifiable local public officials who are registered as Republicans, and a fifth is the wife of an elected official, who is also registered with the GOP. Asked about the inclusion of Republicans in an ad about cross-party support for Duarte, a spokesperson for Duarte’s campaign dismissed the idea that the spot — labeled “Democrat Leaders ” on tracking site AdImpact — suggests that all the people in the ad are, in fact, Democratic leaders. "The Democratic leaders, who are a few among many Democrats who support John Duarte, identify themselves as such,” spokesperson Duane Dichiara said in a statement. “Of course the ad has people from other parties who support him as well." The spot, if overhyping Duarte’s appeal to Democrats, underscores a selling point that the incumbent Republican is banking on to win reelection to a district Joe Biden won in 2020 and where Democrats have a significant voter registration advantage. Duarte’s campaign has worked to cast him as a leader who works on both sides of the aisle to “lower the cost of groceries” and is willing to take on his party’s big bosses. His opponent, Adam Gray, is taking a similar tack, featuring three local Republican officials (don’t worry, we checked) backing him in an ad about crime to bolster his bipartisan bonafides. Three of the leaders identified by name in Duarte’s ad, Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno, Madera Mayor Pro Tempore Cece Gallegos, and Mendota Mayor Pro Tempore Libertad Lopez, hold nonpartisan offices and don’t identify their party affiliation in the clip, but are listed as Republicans in the state’s voter registry. It’s unclear if they knew they were going to be featured in a Dems for Duarte spot. “They knew that they were in advertisements,” Dichiara said, when pressed on the question. “That’s what they were there for.” We reached out to the identifiable Republicans, but only two got back to us. Moreno, the district attorney, said she didn’t know her recording would be used in an advertisement about Democrats, but that she was not surprised or offended by it. “I like what [Duarte] does, I am a proud supporter and I’m hopeful that he wins,” she said. James Casey, a Ceres City Council member who was included in the crowd shot, told Playbook that both he and his wife, who is also in the ad, are Republicans. He didn’t know he’d be used in an ad about Democrats, he said, but that he wasn’t upset. “Things happen … this is politics,” he said. A spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party’s main House fundraising arm, countered that Gray has “actual support” from Republicans, Democrats and independents. “While John Duarte keeps trying and failing to fool Valley families into thinking he’s something he’s not, Adam Gray is meeting Valley families where they are,” said Dan Gottlieb in a statement. IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@politico.com.
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