(Headline USA) Democrats spent more than $53 million boosting the primary campaigns of Republican candidates despite publicly claiming these candidates are a threat to democracy.
A Washington Post analysis found that Democrats spent close to 30 times more than what Republican candidates were able to raise themselves. They propped up supposedly “far-right” candidates in California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Virginia, betting that these “fringe” candidates would be easier to beat in general election.
In total, Democrats interfered in 13 primary races: six gubernatorial contests, two Senate primaries and five House races.
Most of the money Democrats donated was used to fund TV commercials touting the candidates’ positions on abortion and vote fraud in the 2020 election. In Illinois, for example, the Democratic Governors Association spent $34.5 million to propel GOP state Sen. Darren Bailey, who described lawmakers who urged Trump to concede to President Joe Biden in 2020 as “appalling.”
Democrats’ preferred candidates have won in four of the 11 GOP races that have taken place thus far. In Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the “far-right” candidate won the gubernatorial primary. And in Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., was successfully primaried by conservative John Gibbs.
Meanwhile, Biden and the rest of Democrat leadership have publicly insisted that Republicans who question the results of the 2020 election are dangerous threats to democracy.
Even some progressives have admitted that it is hypocritical for Democrats to fund the campaigns of Republicans they condemn.
“I do want to win these races, but it makes me worried,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said. “I just really worry about promoting election deniers and this idea that we’re going to be able to control what voters want at the end of the day.”
Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., was more blunt, calling the strategy “dishonorable,” “dangerous,” and “just damn wrong.”
