HIT: After radical anti-gun activist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Super PAC spent nearly half a million dollars on Kendra Horn's campaign, one of Horn's first votes in Congress on a major piece of legislation was for Nancy Pelosi's gun control bill.

BACKUP:

In 2018, New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s super PAC spent over $400,000 in the last days of Horn’s campaign:

• In the last days of the 2018 campaign, Bloomberg’s Independence USA PAC spent $400,000 on attack ads against Steve Russell and in support of Horn. “Independence USA, a political action committee backed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will spend $400,000 to air a television ad in Oklahoma City supporting Democratic congressional challenger Kendra Horn, the PAC said Friday. ‘Our schools rank 49th in the nation, and Steve Russell is part of the mess,’ the ad states, as video clips of the Oklahoma Capitol and Gov. Mary Fallin play. ‘As a state legislator, Russell voted with Governor Fallin to underfund our schools.’ The ad contains criticisms Horn has leveled for months against Russell, an incumbent Republican seeking a third term. Horn has consistently attempted to link Russell, who served one term in the Oklahoma Senate, to the unpopular Republican governor.” (Justin Wingerter, “Bloomberg-Backed PAC Will Spend $400K On Ads To Help Kendra Horn,” NewsOK, 11/3/18)

• Following Horn’s election, ABC News noted that Independence USA spent about half a million to help elect Horn. “Horn edged Russell out of the seat by just two points, according to ABC projections, based on exit polling. Russell's campaign raised less than $1 million and got almost no money from outside groups. Comparatively, Horn was able to attract some national attention and pulled in about half a million dollars from billionaire Democratic donor Michael Bloomberg's Super PAC, Independence USA.” (Meg Cunningham, “House Democrats defy the odds, flip some Republican strongholds blue,” ABC News, 11/8/18)

o Independence USA is a Super PAC. “Independence USA is a super PAC that focuses largely on helping to elect candidates who support stricter gun-control laws. It was founded in October 2012 by Michael Bloomberg, and, so far, has been entirely funded by the former New York City mayor.” (Eugene Kiely, “Independence USA, Factcheck.org, 2/7/14)

o Independence USA PAC spent $430,481.75 in support of Horn in 2018.

(Federal Election Commission, Accessed, 8/28/20)

• In February 2020, Bloomberg boasted that he “bought” the Democratic House majority in 2018. “In a cringeworthy slip of the tongue, Mike Bloomberg at the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina on Tuesday night almost said he ‘bought’ 21 congressional Democrats their seats in the 2018 midterm elections. ‘Let's just go on the record, they talk about 40 Democrats,’ Bloomberg said, referring to former Vice President Joe Biden, his rival who previously boasted of his work helping secure victories for House Democrats in the midterms. ‘Twenty-one of those were people that I spent $100 million to help elect,’ he continued. ‘All of the new Democrats that came in and put Nancy Pelosi in charge and gave the Congress the ability to control this president, I bough — I got them.’” (Tom Porter, “Mike Bloomberg Appeared To Say He ‘Bought’ 21 Democrats Their Seats In Congress In A Cringeworthy Debate Gaffe,” Business Insider, 2/26/20)

• Bloomberg’s spending on Horn’s race “Effectively doubled the television spending on her behalf.” “With just days to go before the election, and Ms. Horn fighting an uphill battle in a deeply conservative state, Mr. Bloomberg’s group had effectively doubled the television spending on her behalf, catching Mr. Russell flat-footed and unable to respond.” (Stephanie Saul and Rachel Shorey, “How Michael Bloomberg Used His Money To Aid Democratic Victories In The House, The New York Times, 11/30/18)

• Ward Curtin, Horn’s campaign manager at the time, said they had “No idea [Bloomberg’s] ads were coming,” but that “$400,000 in this market” had a “significant” effect. “By law, super PACs can’t coordinate their spending decisions with the candidates they support. Ward Curtin, Horn’s campaign manager, said Horn had no idea the ads were coming but that Bloomberg’s team had done its homework and struck advertising themes that complemented Horn’s messages. On Tuesday, Horn knocked off Republican Rep. Steve Russell in an Oklahoma City district Trump had won by double digits in 2016. ‘The $400,000 in this market was significant,’ Curtin told CNN this week.” (Fredreka Schouten, “Billionaires Helped Democrats Win. Do They Stand A Chance In 2020?” CNN, 11/10/18)

• Bloomberg was Mayor of New York City for 12 Years from 2001 to 2013 and has historically been registered as a Republican, an Independent, and a Democrat. “Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that he is formally changing his voter registration to Democrat, a possible step toward running for president in 2020. […] Bloomberg was elected mayor of New York City as a Republican in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. He announced in 2007 that he was changing his registration to be unaffiliated with a party and won a third four- year term as an independent in 2009.” (Mark Niquette, “Weighing 2020 Bid, Michael Bloomberg Registers As A Democrat,” Bloomberg, 10/10/18)

Bloomberg is the “modern-day face of the gun control movement in America” and is the main financier of Everytown for Gun Safety:

• Bloomberg is the “modern-day face of the gun control movement in America.” “Bloomberg has made himself the modern-day face of the gun control movement in America, thanks to his founding of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and his willingness to personally bankroll campaigns and candidates that support gun control.” (Dana Rubinstein, “Bloomberg Will Have ‘More Time To Focus’ On Guns Soon,” Politico, 12/12/13)

• In 2014, Bloomberg claimed that people who want guns in their house are “pretty stupid- particularly if you have kids.” “It’s like smoking: I’ve always defended your right to smoke. I think you’re crazy, but I don’t think we should take away your right. I do think we should take away your right to smoke where other people have to breathe your smoke. But if you go outside away from everybody else, I don’t have a problem with that. And If You Want To Have A Gun In Your House, I Think You're Pretty Stupid – Particularly If You Have Kids – But I Guess You Have A Right To Do That. Someday, there is going to be a suit against parents who smoke in their houses or have guns in their houses by a kid. It’s not that far-fetched.” (Simon Vozick-Levinson, “Michael Bloomberg Isn't Afraid Of The NRA,” Rolling Stone, 7/8/14)

• In 2015, Bloomberg suggested that cities need to get guns out of the hands of minority males between the ages of 15 and 25 in order to keep them alive. Q: “What do you think mayors, philanthropies, businesses can do with those folks who like the education system and haven’t kind of engaged, they’re not firing on all cylinders. What do we offer to them in the— either something—of equality of opportunity or even basic fairness to make up for the [INAUDIBLE] failed?” BLOOMBERG: “Well, it’s controversial. But first thing is all of your … 95 percent of your murders, murderers, and murder victims fit one M.O. You can just take the description, Xerox it, pass it out to all the cops. They are male minorities 15 to 25. That’s true in New York. It’s true in virtually every city in America. That’s where the real crime is. You have to get the guns out of the hands of the people getting killed.” (Michael Bloomberg, Remarks At Aspen Institute, 2/5/15, Minute 40:48 - 41:44)

• Bloomberg founded the pro-gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety, which has spent millions in recent elections on Democratic candidates. “Everytown for Gun Safety, the pro- gun control group founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is rolling out a $5 million digital ad campaign targeting 15 House races, as the group continues heavy investment in the midterm elections.” (Elena Schneider, “Bloomberg-Founded Gun Control Group Launches Ads To Flip 15 GOP House Districts,” Politico, 9/25/18)

Horn voted for H.R. 8, Nancy Pelosi’s gun control bill that establishes federal background checks on all gun purchases, including private sales:

• The House voted to pass HR 8, or the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, 240 to 190 on February 27, 2019. (H.R. 8, Roll Call # 99, Passed 240-190, R 188-8, D 2-232, 2/27/19)

• Horn and Pelosi voted in favor of the bill. (H.R. 8, Roll Call # 99, Passed 240-190, R 188-8, D 2-232, Horn And Pelosi Voted Yes, 2/27/19)

• Pelosi said they won a “big victory” following the passage of the bill. “The Democratic- controlled House on Wednesday approved a measure requiring federal background checks for all firearms sales and transfers, the first major gun control legislation considered by Congress in nearly 25 years. Democrats called the 240-190 vote a major step to end the gun lobby's grip on Washington and begin to address an epidemic of gun violence that kills thousands of Americans every year, including 17 people shot and killed at a Florida high school last year… While Republicans mostly opposed the bill, the GOP scored a procedural victory when the House accepted a Republican amendment requiring that gun sellers notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement when an illegal immigrant tries to buy a gun. Twenty-six Democrats joined with Republicans to support the amendment, offered by Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi downplayed the GOP proposal, saying, ‘We won a big victory — get the message.’ Pelosi, D-Calif., called the House vote ‘historic’ and hailed the bill as ‘a long- overdue, commonsense action to end the epidemic of gun violence in America.’” (Matthew Daly, “House approves bill to expand gun-sale background checks,” ABC News, 2/27/19) • In January 2019, Pelosi held a press conference unveiling H.R. 8.

(“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Facebook, 1/8/19)

• HR 8 requires federal background checks for any gun purchases, including private firearm sales. “The Democratic proposal would require federal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions. It includes some small exemptions, like for transfers between family members or temporary use of a gun for hunting. Gun-control groups estimate that roughly one-fifth or more of gun sales don't include background checks.” (John Bresnahan, “House passes most sweeping gun control legislation in decades,” Politico, 2/27/19)

• The bill was supported by gun control groups like Everytown, who spent $400,000 on advertising in support of HR 8. “Another sign of coordinated efforts around the vote: Gun control group Everytown is dumping $400,000 into advertisement purchasing and sponsorships with media outlets and targeted ads on Facebook asking people to contact their representative about the bill, according to a spokesperson for the group.” (Elizabeth Landers, “House sends guns background check bill to the Senate with bipartisan support,” CNN, 2/27/19)