Greetings all. Sharing a timely discussion about the latest election rigging tactic of a desperate GOP - the emergence of shadowy SuperPACs intervening in our House primaries. Will Van Nuys, the Deputy Executive Director of the Democratic Campaign Committee, joined me to walk us through what we know and what we can do about it. A video recording and rough transcript can be found above.
From our conversation:
Across multiple districts now, Republicans in the last few weeks have started to open new shady PACs. Essentially, their titles look like Democratic PACs. One of the first cases we saw was a couple weeks ago in PA-7, Pennsylvania's 7th District, a target on our battlefield.
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Let’s take a step backwards, if you don’t mind for a second, in terms of where Republicans started this cycle. They have pushed an incredibly unpopular agenda that only appeals to the well-off and well-connected, and to line their own pockets with DC funds, in order to try to rig the system for continued control of power for the Republican Party. And what they know to be true is that agenda is a failure and is incredibly unpopular. And so as a result, rather than trying to change that, what they’re trying to do is instead rig our elections, rig the system.
This is just another layer in that push.
In the last few weeks the Rs have spent money to try to shape the outcome of primary elections in CA-22, NE-02, NJ-07, PA-07, and TX-35. Here are some articles detailing what we know:
New York Times: Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints
Punchbowl: Is the GOP meddling in House Dem primaries?
Politico: A mysterious, GOP-linked super PAC is roiling a Texas Democratic primary
Jewish Insider: Secretive GOP-linked super PAC Lead Left boosting antisemitic Dem candidate in Texas
Lehigh Valley News: Democrats cry foul as mysterious super PAC drops $556,000 in PA-7’s Democratic primary
Huffington Post: Republicans Might Be Meddling In A Key Swing District Primary. Democrats Aren’t Sure Why
Perhaps the most egregious example of this new tactic is the money being spent in TX-35 to promote a virulent antisemite, Maureen Galindo in Tuesday’s run off election against DCCC-endorsed candidate Johnny Garcia.
I am bringing this new development to you for two reasons. First, as we come to better understand this emerging Republican tactic it may influence who we endorse and raise money for. We’ve tried hard to stay out of primaries but that may change. Second, in that spirit I am asking everyone reading this to chip in a bit of money to Johnny Garcia as soon as you can. If Galindo wins on Tuesday we will lose this winnable seat this November, and she will become a thorn in the side of our other promising candidates in Texas this year.
My hope is that we can raise $5,000-$10,000 this weekend to help Johnny Garcia close strong. You can give to him directly here, or by supporting our new Winning The House - Second Wave campaign where is one of the five recipients along with Bob Brooks (PA-07), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Denise Powell (NE-02) and Bobby Pulido (TX-15). I just contributed $500. Hope you will join me!
Yes, it is the Friday of Memorial Day weekend but hope you will watch this timely new discussion and help Johnny Garcia win this Tuesday!
Have a great weekend everyone - Simon
