Yarbrough Pushes for Amnesty in Latest Ad

Retired educator Grady Yarbrough, one of the two Democrats in a primary runoff to replace U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is airing a new television ad focused on immigration.

In the second television ad of his campaign, Yarbrough advocates for passing the DREAM Act, sealing the border "by whatever means necessary" and granting citizenship to all illegal immigrant workers who have been in the country at least seven years and have no criminal history.

Yarbrough said he has personally visited television stations around the state in recent weeks in order to purchase time for the ad to air. He has also produced a Spanish version of the ad.

"I’m going into pretty much all the major markets in the state and spending thousands of dollars in each of those markets," Yarbrough said. "I’ve probably spent $25,000 to $30,000."

This is Yarbrough's second television ad of his campaign. The first one aired just once in Waco before the primary, he said.

Yarbrough's campaign spending has become an issue in his runoff against former state Rep. Paul Sadler. Yarbrough, who says he is spending only his own money, had not filed a single campaign finance report when he came in second in the May 29 primary. Since then, Yarbrough has filed reports, though he has not spelled out where he is spending his money. The Federal Election Commission has sent him two letters asking for more information.

Sadler said Yarbrough's immigration stance is not in line with the state's Democrats and is turning off voters. He pointed to Yarbrough's reference to building a "Berlin Wall" at the U.S. southern border in last month's televised debate.