The wife of Republican Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown is criticizing his primary opponent after she believes his attack ads featured unflattering photos that accentuate scars on her husband’s face after he survived an explosion in Afghanistan.
Amy Brown is condemning ads running across the state from Dr. Jeffrey Gunter’s campaign, claiming they feature effects that highlight Brown’s scars after he was set on fire by an improvised explosive device from the Taliban during his first tour of duty.
“Our family embraces Sam’s scars as a physical testament to his strength through adversity and sacrifice for our country,” she said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner.
“Sam bravely fought through not just an IED attack that nearly took his life, but the agonizing process of physical recovery that included over 30 painful surgeries.”
Brown and Gunter, a self-funder who served as former President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Iceland, are competing in a crowded field of Republicans attempting to unseat first-term Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The ad in question that is airing from Gunter’s campaign calls Brown “the newest creature to emerge from the swamp,” a dig at his close ties to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Brown was courted to launch his campaign by National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT).
The ad displays many photos of Brown, utilizing a variety of filters that accentuate the scars across his face, in addition to effects that make McConnell look like a swamp creature.
“[Sam] overcame it all and bears the scars to prove it. It’s disgusting and inexcusable that someone claiming to be a doctor would attack a veteran’s physical disfigurement in general, but to do it for political purposes is especially low and vile,” she added.
Gunter fired back at the comments from Brown’s wife, emphasizing the ads were meant to highlight his opponent’s ties to the Washington D.C., “swamp” and establishment Republicans.
“The only wound rightfully criticized is selling out to the swamp,” Gunter said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “As the son of a veteran, I deeply respect those who serve. As a doctor, I’ve treated severe injuries and know how wounds can be used as a crown or a crutch.”
The former U.S. Ambassador defended using the photos in the ad, claiming that Brown often references the explosion that caused his scars and uses the same photos in his campaign.
“Showing someone’s photo in an ad isn’t an attack. This is a desperate measure from Sam Brown’s imploding campaign,” he said. “While he served with honor, he now prioritizes DC lobbyists and the political elite over Nevada’s working families.”
The increasingly nasty Republican primary comes as former Trump is staying on the sidelines in a primary that is pitting the Senate Republican establishment against Trump loyalists.
Brown has been forced to pivot more to the right in an attempt to attract the electorate that typically embraces the former president and has increased his appearances on right-wing cable.
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A pro-Brown super PAC started airing an ad hitting Gunter as a California Democrat who’s not sufficiently pro-Trump. While, Gunter slams Brown for being “owned by the swamp.” Brown is still polling ahead of the GOP field, including Gunter and state Rep. Jim Marchant. The primary will take place on Tuesday, June 11.
Rosen is one of the top Republican targets in next year’s election as the GOP looks to take the Senate majority from Democrats, who now hold a 51-49 edge in the chamber.
