Efforts by Democratic campaigns, committees and outside groups to tilt the playing field in their favor by supporting extremist Republican primary candidates are sparking backlash as other Democrats warn the tactic risks putting conspiracy theorists and election deniers in office.
The latest flashpoint in the debate came last week when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began running ads touting GOP candidate John Gibbs, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump, over Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach the former President after Jan. 6, 2021.
“I believe Democrats should focus on helping Democrats win,” said Rebecca Katz, a longtime Democratic strategist who is now advising John Fetterman’s Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. “In this year of all years, why make that gamble in a Republican primary? It just seems like their priorities are out of whack.”
While meddling like this is far from exclusive to Democrats — Republicans have a long history of using different means to influence Democratic primaries — the disconnect has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Elected Democrats have been especially vocal, worrying that their party is playing a dangerous — and at times, disingenuous — game.
“I am not thrilled, for sure,” said Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat. “This does undermine our message about keeping campaigns as ethical, honest and transparent as possible.”
Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, was even more aggrieved: “I’m disgusted that hard-earned money intended to support Democrats is being used to boost Trump-endorsed candidates, particularly the far-right opponent of one of the most honorable Republicans in Congress, @RepMeijer.”
And California Rep. Jimmy Gomez said the spending against Meijer and others “sends the wrong message” because the Democratic Party “shouldn’t be associated with any of these election deniers.”
“Right now, we’re in a fight for our democracy,” said Gomez. “What happens if they actually do win? Then we inadvertently helped elect you know, the people that will bring an end to the institutions we’re trying to protect.”
Democrats involved in those efforts defended their actions, arguing that even if the attempt is risky, it is worth it to protect Democratic majorities in 2022.
JB Poersch, president of Senate Majority PAC, said that while their effort in Colorado did not lead to Hanks being the nominee, “we worked to weaken both their campaigns” and forced O’Dea to “burn through cash,” “embrace Trump” and saddled him with baggage ahead of the general election.
David Turner, strategist for the Democratic Governors Association, said the group is simply “educating the public on the MAGA extremism, and cowardice, of today’s Republican party,” something he argued was “essential to ensuring all citizens have the facts.”
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