By Bob Gatty
Democrats will not defeat Donald Trump and regain control of Congress by continuing to play defense and playing nice, according to longtime activist Patrick Reynolds.
Reynolds, the grandson of tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, is now leading the Congress Majority PAC, a pro-Democratic super PAC developing aggressive political advertising for competitive House and Senate races.
His message is blunt: Democrats must confront Trump and his MAGA allies directly, make the Republican Party defend its record, and give voters a clear reason to elect Democratic majorities.
In a new interview on the Lean to the Left podcast, Reynolds discusses that strategy and presents four political ads that he wrote, produced, and narrated. The ads are designed to be used in multiple states and congressional districts rather than being tied to a single candidate.
Watch the episode
Listen to the episode
From Big Tobacco to the Fight for Congress
Reynolds first became nationally known for turning against the tobacco industry that created his family’s fortune.
His father died from smoking the Camels and Winstons that made the Reynolds family wealthy. In 1986, Reynolds testified before Congress in favor of banning tobacco advertising, and he went on to become a prominent critic of Big Tobacco.
In 2015, President Barack Obama recognized Reynolds with a White House Lifetime Achievement Award for his public health work.
Reynolds says his political evolution was influenced by years of watching tobacco companies direct most of their political contributions to Republicans who helped prevent passage of important public-health legislation.
He eventually concluded that electing Democrats was essential not only for tobacco regulation, but also for progress on climate change, reproductive rights, gun safety, and other issues.
“We’re winning the battle against tobacco in this country,” Reynolds says in the interview. He decided it was time to move on to a broader political fight.
A Different Kind of Political Advertising
Most campaign advertising focuses on individual candidates. One ad praises a candidate. The next attacks an opponent.
Reynolds believes voters have become tired of that repetitive formula.
His approach is to rise above individual contests and make a broader case against Trump and the Republican Party. Each ad ends with a simple instruction: Vote Democrat.
(Editor’s note: They are the type of ads the Democratic National Committee should be using.)
The ads can be placed in whichever House or Senate races are most likely to determine control of Congress.
Reynolds says the PAC intends to spend its resources selectively rather than running the ads nationally. He estimates that roughly 20 pivotal races could decide which party controls Congress.
Four Ads Aimed at Trump and MAGA
The Lean to the Left interview includes four of Reynolds’ ads.
The first directly attacks Trump and connects his statements and conduct to the Republican Party that continues to support him.
The second focuses on climate change, fossil-fuel interests, and Trump’s relationship with major oil donors.
The third argues that the economy has historically performed better under Democratic presidents and criticizes Republican deregulation, including policies Reynolds says contributed to the 2008 mortgage crisis.
The fourth is directed at former Democrats and other voters who have become disillusioned with the party. It acknowledges their frustration but urges them to vote Democratic anyway, ending with a humorous appeal: “Vote Democrat, even if it hurts.”
Reynolds says these ads are intended to be tough, direct, and strategically deployed.
A climate-change ad, for example, could be aired in a competitive district during a heat wave, hurricane, flood, or other extreme weather event. Other ads could be matched with the concerns dominating particular races.
What Is at Stake?
Reynolds argues that control of Congress is about much more than ordinary partisan competition.
“The future of our democracy is at stake,” he says.
He warns that a Republican-controlled Congress would leave Trump with insufficient checks on his power. Electing Democratic majorities in both chambers, he argues, is the best way to restrain Trump and stop the MAGA agenda.
The Congress Majority PAC is raising money to place the ads in the congressional and Senate races where they could have the greatest effect.
Reynolds stresses that small recurring donations can help fund airtime in those battlegrounds.
The larger strategic message, however, extends beyond fundraising.
Democrats, he says, must stop relying on cautious, defensive political communication. They must attack the Republican record, identify what is at stake, and force voters to choose between sharply different futures.
The new Lean to the Left interview with Patrick Reynolds is now online and includes all four ads.