Conservative groups have been secretly funding Democratic primary candidates, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings. These groups, such as Lead Left PAC and Real Change PAC, have been spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in key Democratic primary races across the country.

Strategy to Influence Democratic Primaries

The strategy behind this spending is to boost candidates who are perceived as weaker contenders in the general election, thereby giving Republicans a better chance of winning. For example, in Texas’ 35th District, Lead Left PAC spent over $750,000 on advertisements supporting Maureen Galindo, a candidate who ultimately lost the primary runoff by nearly 30 points.

Despite the group’s name suggesting liberal leanings, filings show that Lead Left PAC received over $3 million in May from Conservative Americans PAC, which is funded by the influential Republican nonprofit American Prosperity Alliance. This alliance has ties to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Conservative Americans PAC acknowledged its role in seeking to shape the Democratic primaries, stating that Republicans are leveling the playing field after over a decade of Democrats meddling in their primaries.

Reaction from Democrats

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee condemned the tactics, claiming that Republican efforts have backfired in the races. They point to the example of Galindo, whose loss in the primary runoff was attributed in part to concerns about her candidacy.

The use of super PACs to influence primaries is not new, but the scale and secrecy of the current efforts have raised concerns. Quirks in campaign finance reporting deadlines allow outside groups to register with the FEC in the weeks leading up to an election and spend unlimited amounts before they are required to file their first reports detailing fundraising and spending.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.