Is Heng's 'Costa in High Heels' Ad Fair or Cheap Shot?

Elizabeth Heng, the Republican challenger to Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno, is again receiving national attention for one of her campaign ads.
Heng was on Fox News and MSNBC answering questions Sunday about the commercial, which depicts a silver-haired man who resembles Costa walking on a sidewalk in red high heels.
Heng said on “Fox & Friends” that the ad points out how she differs from Costa on issues such as water, immigration, and high-speed rail in “a lighthearted way.” It also points out that Costa’s votes often are aligned with those of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Watch Heng on Sunday Edition of ‘Fox & Friends’

Heng Talks About Controversial Ad With MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt

MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt twice asked Heng if the high heels ad was “sexist.”
Heng answered “no” each time, saying the commercials focused on Costa’s votes and inability to move legislation on immigration reform and increase water supplies for Valley growers.
Fox News and MSNBC each said that Costa was invited on to respond to Heng’s ad. Costa did not appear during either segment.

Heng-Costa Debate is Tuesday

Costa and Heng will meet in a live debate 6 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 23).
It will stream on the FOX26 News website and air live on the CW59, NewsTalk 580 and 105.9 KMJ. It will replay Thursday on Valley PBS.
FOX26 News anchor Gia Vang is the moderator. The panelists are FOX26’s Rich Rodriguez, KMJ’s Matt Otstot, and Elizabeth Laval of Valley PBS.

Other Heng, Costa Commercials

Earlier in the campaign, Facebook and Twitter initially banned Heng ads featuring images of the Cambodian genocide. She is the daughter of Cambodian immigrants. That brought her national attention from conservative media outlets before the social media sites reversed course and allowed the commercials.
Previous Costa opponents have come up with memorable ads.
In 2004, Republican Roy Ashburn blanketed the radio airwaves with the tagline “Costa will cost ya.” Costa defeated Ashburn, winning 54% of the votes.
Others have adopted the line. In 2011, the League of Conservation Voters attacked Costa with it.

Watch Costa Hit Heng’s Voting Record

Costa Leads Heng in SurveyUSA Poll

As referenced in Sunday’s Fox & Friends piece, a Sept. 14 poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of ABC30 indicated that Costa led Heng, 51% to 40%.
“Incumbent Democrat Jim Costa today appears to have built a sufficiently broad coalition to allow him to hold onto his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for an 8th term,” the poll stated.
The poll also stated, “Should white voters turn-out in 2018 in larger numbers than here modeled and should Latino voters turn-out in smaller numbers than here modeled, the outcome in 2018 will resemble 2014 more than 2016.”
Costa narrowly defeated Republican Johnny Tacherra in the 2014 midterm before solidly defeating him in 2016 presidential election year.

Watch Costa Answer Heng’s Accusations

Costa, who won California’s 16th district primary with 53% of the vote to Heng’s 47%, answered several of her accusations in this recent interview with GV Wire.