Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer-aligned groups have been involved in several Republican primaries this election cycle, a strategy that has been ongoing for years. The Senate Majority PAC (SMP), focused on electing and maintaining Democrats in the Senate, has targeted Republican primaries in at least two states for the 2024 elections. SMP typically operates through other groups to hide its involvement until after the primaries, often concentrating on swing states by supporting candidates endorsed by former President Trump, whom they believe may be more vulnerable to defeat by their Democratic Senate candidate in the general election.
In a recent instance in Ohio, SMP supported businessman Bernie Moreno, endorsed by Trump, through a group called the Duty and Country PAC. The PAC injected $2.5 million into a last-minute effort to boost Moreno by portraying him as 'too conservative,' aiming to solidify his support among certain Republican voters. The Duty and Country PAC received substantial funding from Majority Forward, a dark money nonprofit linked to SMP.
Similar tactics were employed in Montana, where the Last Best Place PAC, solely funded by Majority Forward, targeted former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy in the state's Republican primary. The PAC's lack of transparency led to a complaint from the watchdog group Americans for Public Trust.
In the 2022 Colorado Senate primary, SMP-backed Democratic Colorado spent millions supporting the more conservative candidate, state Rep. Ron Hanks, against businessman Joe O'Dea. However, O'Dea emerged victorious, leading to a loss for the Democrats in the general election.
This meddling in Republican primaries has also occurred in states like New Hampshire and Arizona in previous election cycles, drawing criticism from Republicans who argue it deepens political divisions and hampers compromise. Democrats, on the other hand, defend the strategy as a means to secure victories against extreme candidates put forth by the GOP.
While SMP did not comment on the general tactic of interfering in Republican primaries, the practice continues to spark debate and controversy within the political landscape.
