Around New England

Left-Wing Group To Spend $300K On Attack Ads Against Richard Neal

July 7, 2020

One progressive group will take a large amount of money and use it to attack U.S. Representative Richard Neal (D-Springfield). 

A group called Fight Corporate Monopolies plans to spend $300,000 to give people in Neal’s First Congressional District (which covers all of western Massachusetts) the impression that Neal is beholden to Blackstone Group, using a TV commercial.

Blackstone Group, a private equity firm, financially benefits from surprise medical billing. It’s something there is bipartisan support in Congress to stop, but Neal opposes ending.

Neal has reportedly received $48,600 in donations from Blackstone executives and their associates in this election cycle.

He faces Alex Morse, the mayor of Holyoke, who is running to Neal’s left, in the September 1 primary. Neal has criticized Morse for what Neal describes as the mayor’s lack of effectiveness in his home city.

Blackstone Group could not be reached for comment.