Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s aligned groups have been involved in several Republican primaries this election cycle, a tactic that has been utilized for a number of years. The Senate Majority PAC (SMP) has targeted Republican primaries in at least two states for the 2024 elections, often using other groups to conceal its involvement until after the primaries. The SMP mainly targets swing states by boosting candidates supported by former President Trump, whom they believe are more likely to lose to their Democrat Senate candidate in the general election. This tactic was recently used in Ohio’s Republican primary, where the Duty and Country PAC injected $2.5 million to support businessman Bernie Moreno, who Trump also endorsed.
The Duty and Country PAC utilized an ad campaign labeling Moreno as “too conservative” in an effort to appeal to some Republican voters and solidify his standing in the primary election. The ad suggested that Moreno would do Trump’s bidding and lead the charge on repealing Obamacare and instituting a national abortion ban. Records show that the Duty and Country PAC received significant funding from Majority Forward, a dark money nonprofit associated with SMP. Despite criticism for their involvement in Republican primaries, SMP defended their actions by claiming that voters deserve to know the truth about the candidates they are supporting.
In addition to Ohio, SMP has employed similar tactics in other states, including Montana and Colorado, where they funneled money through various PACs to support candidates preferred by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. This controversial approach has faced backlash from Republicans, who argue that it exacerbates the political divide and undermines trust between parties. However, Democrats have defended the tactic, pointing to its effectiveness in securing victories in competitive races. Despite criticism, SMP has not commented on the general practice of meddling in Republican primaries.
Overall, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s aligned groups have strategically intervened in Republican primaries to influence the outcome in favor of candidates they believe will be more easily defeated by Democratic candidates in the general election. This tactic involves using dark money nonprofits and PACs to conceal their involvement until after the primaries, targeting swing states and boosting candidates supported by former President Trump. While this approach has been successful in some cases, it has drawn criticism from Republicans for exacerbating political divisions and undermining trust between parties. Despite backlash, Democrats have defended the tactic as a necessary strategy for securing victories in competitive races.
