A recent attack ad targeting progressive Squad member Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) paints her as a radical threat to the Democrat’s agenda, linking her to pro-abortion rights protests, the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and former President Trump. The ad, funded by Pennsylvania billionaire Jeffrey Yass, promotes Bhavini Patel as a moderate alternative to Lee. Yass, a notable donor to the Republican Party and a possible Treasury Secretary under a second Trump administration, has given over $1.8 million to the super PAC behind the ads. Lee, in response, criticizes the ad for using funds from someone associated with an insurrectionist.
Yass, who made his wealth as an international stock trader, has worked to avoid high taxes and has ties to Trump through his trading firm, Susquehanna International Group. He supports Patel, reflecting a trend of Republican dollars sneaking into Democratic primaries this year. Progressive members of Congress, such as Lee, have faced challenges from groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee super PAC, accused of laundering Republican billionaires’ money into Democratic races. Lee, a member of the Squad, notes the use of disinformation and dog whistles to portray her as too extreme for Congress.
Moderate PAC, led by Ty Strong, aims to raise $20 million to protect moderate Democrats from progressive challengers. Yass, who donated $1 million and is the group’s sole donor in the 2022 midterms, funded ads against Lee early this year. Despite initially claiming that Moderate PAC was not backed by Yass, Strong later admitted to his sizable donation. While initially attributing funding to local Democrats, Moderate PAC’s disclosure revealed that Yass donated $800,000, the majority of the group’s funds used against Lee in her primary race.
Patel, who cannot coordinate with Moderate PAC, initially denied Yass’ support for her campaign but later agreed with the group’s message that Lee is not sufficiently supportive of President Biden. She expressed discomfort with Yass’ backing and emphasized her lifelong Democratic affiliation. Patel denounced both Trump and Yass, echoing her sentiments from an earlier debate with Lee. The situation sheds light on the influence of Republican money in Democratic primaries and the use of outside funds to influence election outcomes.
The controversy surrounding Yass’ support for a moderate candidate like Patel, while painting a progressive like Lee as an extremist, reflects larger trends in political financing. Lee’s campaign has worked to counter accusations of insufficient support for Biden by highlighting her engagements with Biden cabinet members and VP Kamala Harris, as well as her advocacy for abortion rights. Progressive members of Congress continue to face challenges from well-funded groups seeking to sway primary races in favor of more moderate candidates.
As the race continues, the debate over the influence of wealthy donors like Yass in political campaigns and the portrayal of candidates as either too extreme or not supportive enough of party agendas will remain a central theme. Lee’s experience with disinformation and attack ads funded by donors with opposing political affiliations underscores the challenges faced by progressive candidates in maintaining their positions and reputations amidst well-funded opposition campaigns. Patel’s campaign, while distancing itself from Yass’ support, must navigate the complexities of accepting donations from individuals with conflicting political ideologies while maintaining a clear and consistent message to voters.
