A Republican-aligned political action committee is spending millions of dollars in Democratic primaries to boost candidates viewed as weaker general-election opponents, arguing that Democrats have employed similar tactics for years.
Conservative Americans PAC and affiliated groups spent heavily in a series of competitive Democratic primaries this cycle, according to documents obtained by the Daily Caller. The effort targeted races in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey and Maine, often by running advertisements designed to appeal to Democratic primary voters while undermining more establishment-backed candidates.
The strategy hinges on elevating more ideologically progressive and potentially less competitive candidates in a general election.
Since its founding in 2022, Conservative Americans PAC says it has directed millions of dollars into congressional and Senate races, as well as Republican primary contests. The group rejects descriptions linking it to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, saying McCarthy has no involvement in the organization’s operations or funding network.
According to the documents reviewed by the Daily Caller, Conservative Americans PAC and its affiliated organizations spent roughly $18.1 million across five Democratic primary contests. Two affiliated groups, Lead Left PAC and Real Change PAC, accounted for approximately $4.3 million of that spending.
The PAC’s advertisements frequently highlighted issues such abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, backing Medicare for All and opposition to President Donald Trump.
“After over a decade of Democrats meddling in our primaries and with radical politicians ascending in the Democrat Party, Republicans are evening the playing field,” Conservative Americans PAC spokeswoman Samantha Bullock told the Daily Caller. “To quote Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, ‘These clowns have been playing checkers, and we’re going to continue to play three-dimensional chess.'”
One example occurred in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, where Lead Left PAC spent more than $435,000 opposing Democratic state Sen. John Cavanaugh by portraying him as insufficiently aligned with Democratic priorities. The spending coincided with Denise Powell’s victory in the primary.
At the same time, Democratic-aligned groups including the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and Progressive Promise collectively spent about $400,000 supporting Cavanaugh.
A similar dynamic unfolded in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. Democratic state Sen. Joe Baldacci, who had support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, ultimately lost the nomination after ranked-choice voting tabulations were completed.
Following the primary, State Auditor Matt Dunlap secured the Democratic nomination. Political analysts later rated the district as leaning Republican heading into November.
According to Axios, Republicans are now participating in a broader nationwide effort to elevate Democratic candidates they believe will be easier to defeat in general elections.
Democrats have employed comparable approaches in Republican primaries, often spending money to boost candidates viewed as more controversial or less electable.
The New York Times has described Democratic intervention in GOP primaries as a recurring tactic, while Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. argued in 2024 that such efforts were politically necessary.
According to documents reviewed by the Daily Caller, Democratic-aligned outside groups have spent roughly $44 million across 18 targeted primary contests this cycle, significantly exceeding the spending attributed to Conservative Americans PAC’s affiliated operations.
Critics argue the practice undermines the spirit of primary elections and can produce unintended consequencess. Supporters counter that it is simply another form of political strategy in a competitive electoral environment where both parties are attempting to maximize their chances of victory in November.
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