WASHINGTON — In a midterm election cycle where few topics are off the table, a growing number of Democratic candidates are turning a spotlight on what they call the “Epstein class” — a term meant to describe powerful individuals connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 19th’s Grace Panetta reports that after Graham Platner secured the Democratic nomination for a competitive U.S. House seat, he began running television ads that directly tie his Republican opponent, Rep. Mike Lawler, to the Epstein network.
The ads feature a clip of Lawler alongside Donald Trump, who has his own well-documented history with Epstein. Platner is not alone in this strategy.
In Pennsylvania, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democratic candidate for Congress, has also made the Epstein connection a central theme of his campaign. The approach reflects a broader Democratic effort to link Republican opponents to what they describe as a bipartisan web of enablers, though the focus this cycle is squarely on the GOP.
‘A political gift’
“The Epstein class is a political gift,” one Democratic strategist told The 19th, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss campaign tactics. “It allows us to talk about corruption, power, and who protects whom in Washington.” The term has gained traction among progressive activists and online commentators, but its use in television advertising and stump speeches marks a new phase. Democrats are betting that voters, particularly suburban women and independents, will recoil at the sight of Republican candidates appearing alongside Epstein or Trump.
Lawler’s campaign has pushed back, calling the ads a distraction from local issues like inflation and public safety. “This is a desperate smear from a candidate who has no record to run on,” a Lawler spokesperson said.
Yet the strategy appears to be resonating in early polling. In the New York district that Platner hopes to flip, internal Democratic surveys show the Epstein messaging is moving undecided voters, especially those who say they are tired of “business as usual” in Washington.
Bipartisan roots, partisan use
The Epstein scandal has ensnared figures from both parties over the years. The late financier counted among his associates former President Bill Clinton, Britain’s Prince Andrew, and numerous business and political elites. But Democrats argue that the current Republican ticket — with Trump at the top — makes the connection more potent today.
“We are not pretending this is a one-party problem,” a senior Democratic campaign official told The 19th. “But when your standard-bearer is someone who partied with Epstein and appointed his labor secretary, you own that.” For now, the early findings suggest the tactic is helping Democratic candidates consolidate their base and chip away at swing voters.
Whether it will hold through November remains to be seen. Voters should talk to their local candidates about where they stand on accountability — and watch the ad wars closely as the general election heats up. The encouraging part, for Democrats, is that the conversation is just beginning.
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