Congressional Democrats are accusing Republican-linked super PAC activity of entering Democratic primaries to back candidates they view as easier to beat later. In Texas' 35th district, a PAC reportedly tied to Republican interests spent more than $1 million supporting Maureen Galindo in the Democratic primary.
That effort came alongside other spending on Democratic contests. Real Change PAC dumped money into New Jersey's 7th, Maine's 2nd and California's 22nd districts, while Progressive Champions PAC spent at least $1.5 million in opposition to Cait Conley.
Maureen Galindo in Texas
Maureen Galindo was condemned by Democrats over comments they described as antisemitic. She wrote that she would turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking, and she said it would also be a castration processing center for pedophiles.
Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said, "This vile language by her is disqualifying and has no place in American politics, and certainly not in the Democratic Party,". Galindo later lost her primary in late May.
FEC filings and PAC ties
Axios reported that Lead Left and Progressive Champions PAC have the same bank listed in FEC filings and use the same compliance filing software that has been used by Republicans in the past. Lead Left reportedly supported Maureen Galindo and is tied to Republican interests, which is the evidentiary trail Democrats are citing as they accuse the groups of crossing into their primaries.
Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger told Axios the tactic was unsurprising because Democrats had used similar tactics during the Biden years. He said Democrats "probably... taught the Republicans a lesson" by doing so.
Adam Gray on primary targeting
California Representative Adam Gray said, "They're going into Democratic primaries and literally trying to boost the most extreme candidates and oppose the (moderate) Blue Dog-endorsed candidates that, if they win, are going to beat the Republicans in the general,". His comment captures the dispute now shaping these races: Democrats are focusing on which primary candidates were boosted or attacked, while Republicans are not publicly described in the facts as giving up the strategy.
The next open question is which Republican interests are behind the PAC activity and how direct their control is. Until that is pinned down, the filings show a spending pattern, not a full map of who ordered it.
