A congresswoman from Silicon Valley wants to lead on health care. New attack ads say she’s ‘in the pocket of Big Pharma’

SAN FRANCISCO — A group that’s buying ads to try to elevate the issue of high drug prices in the midterm elections has identified its latest target: a Democratic congresswoman from Silicon Valley who wants to lead on health care issues.

Patients For Affordable Drugs Action will spend $500,000 on ads attacking Rep. Anna Eshoo for her legislative record and for accepting campaign contributions from the drug industry, the group announced Friday. Eshoo is expected to be re-elected easily in November.

The super PAC is led by David Mitchell, a cancer patient and a veteran of Washington health policy circles. Most of the group’s funding comes from John and Laura Arnold, a billionaire couple in Houston who have taken an interest in shaping the debate around drug pricing.

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