Oregon Public Broadcasting

Rarely do ads for legislative races get this personal. But Washington Republicans have launched an ad campaign against a state lawmaker accused of domestic violence.

It sounds like a Public Service Announcement. But it's actually a political attack ad aimed at Democrat Geoff Simpson, a firefighter and ten-year veteran of the Washington State House.

The ad features three women calling on Simpson to resign.

TV Ad: "It's not time to be a politician. Focus on your family. That's what's most important. Get help. Before it's too late."

The ad is paid for by a Republican political action committee called GOPAC. Its top funder is a PAC that gets money from well-known Washington businesses like Puget Sound Energy and Premera Blue Cross.

Simpson has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his ex-wife.

It stems from a May dispute at Children's Hospital where his daughter was a patient. In 2008, Simpson was arrested, but ultimately not charged after another altercation with his former wife.

In a statement, Simpson calls the ad a "vicious attack" and a "new low" in Washington politics.