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New Ad Knocks California Republican Diane Harkey on Offshore Drilling

League of Conservation Voters is targeting GOP nominee for Issa seat

Republican Diane Harkey faces Democrat Mike Levin in California’s 49th District. (Thomas McKinless/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Republican Diane Harkey faces Democrat Mike Levin in California’s 49th District. (Thomas McKinless/CQ Roll Call file photo)

The campaign arm of the League of Conservation Voters is launching a new television ad targeting Republican Diane Harkey on offshore drilling in an open-seat race in Southern California. 

Harkey, an elected member the California State Board of Equalization that oversees taxation, faces environmental lawyer Mike Levin for the 49th District seat that longtime GOP Rep. Darrell Issa is vacating.

The LCV Victory Fund’s new 30-second ad, shared first with Roll Call, is the group’s second anti-Harkey spot. The $778,000 buy will run for two weeks starting Tuesday on broadcast and cable in the San Diego media market. 

The ad knocks Harkey for votes when she served in the state Assembly, including three instances in 2009 in which she did not cast a vote on bills related to offshore drilling. The ad also cites her vote in 2013 against a bill that, as reported in the Los Angeles Times, required oil drillers to cover some of the cost of environmental impact.

The environmental advocacy group is also adding Harkey and GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of the neighboring 48th District to its “Dirty Dozen” list of lawmakers whom the group deems anti-environment.

Dana Rohrabacher and Diane Harkey share long records of putting polluters ahead of protecting Californians’ health and environment,” said Pete Maysmith, the senior vice president of campaigns for LCV Victory Fund.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the 49th District race Leans Democratic.

Watch: 24 House Ratings Change in Favor of Democrats, One Month Out

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