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Democrats have found "something strange" afoot in numerous primary races, according to a Punchbowl News report, and are now accusing the GOP of a scheme to boost "toxic" and potentially more beatable midterm candidates.
"Mysterious super PACs are quietly emerging and spending heavily to boost candidates whom many top Democrats view as less formidable, or even toxic, in general elections," Punchbowl's report explained. "Three of these stealthy groups spent a collective $4.3 million so far in five primaries in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, California, Texas and New Jersey."
It added: "The source of these groups’ funding is obscured. That’s somewhat common in the post-Citizens United era of dark money. But what’s truly baffling is that it’s nearly impossible to tell who is behind these super PACs. And their operators are becoming incredibly skilled at covering their tracks."
In the face of these odd situations, Democrats are now alleging that these candidates are the result of a push by Republicans to "meddle in Democratic primaries to ensure they face the weakest candidate in November." Among the biggest entities pushing these candidates is a PAC called Lead Left, which was caught with a potentially revealing tie to the GOP.
Contained within the group's website is metadata that links out to WinRed, a major online fundraising outlet for the GOP, analogous to ActBlue for Democrats. Punchbowl countered that, despite this odd link, there is still "no smoking gun connecting these groups to Republicans," which it argued is "notable given the myriad of disclosures required to run ads in U.S. elections."
Lead Left has spent a little over $3 million across three key midterm states, with Punchbowl noting that it failed to successfully push a Pennsylvania candidate, but found more success in Nebraska. The group's most infamous candidate, however, is Maureen Galindo, who is running for a House seat in Texas. Galindo has generated heated controversy for comments disparaging Jewish people and supporters of Israel, once asserting that ICE detention facilities should be turned into "camps" for "American Zionists."
Galindo's campaign and rhetoric have already been condemned by top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
According to Punchbowl, there appears to be "next-level obfuscation" at play to hide the online footprints of those involved with these PACs.
"The treasurers of these groups have no apparent online footprint," the report explained. "The addresses listed are post offices, Staples stores or similar sites. The mail firm (Piruzi LLC) and media buyer (OTG Media LLC) for Lead Left PAC were incorporated shortly before the spending began. This means someone created shell companies to hide their identities... Lead Left’s mail firm, Piruzi LLC, and Four Ponies Consulting were both registered in Wyoming by Paracorp Incorporated, which has registered tens of thousands of companies nationwide."
It added: "These groups will have to disclose their donors eventually, but they can hide those donors by transferring money from a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. This is next-levelobfuscation."