Congressional Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to shape Democratic primaries by helping candidates they think are easier to beat. The latest flash point is Texas' 35th district, where a PAC reportedly tied to Republican interests spent more than $1 million backing Maureen Galindo before she lost her primary in late May.
The money matters because it was not limited to one race. Real Change PAC also poured money into New Jersey's 7th, Maine's 2nd and California's 22nd districts, where it backed primary opponents to more moderate Democrats. In another contest, Progressive Champions PAC spent at least $1.5 million against Cait Conley, deepening the sense that the spending was part of a broader effort rather than an isolated intervention.
Galindo became a liability long before the vote. Democrats condemned her over comments they called antisemitic, including a social media post in which she wrote that she would turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking. Hakeem Jeffries and Suzan DelBene called that language disqualifying and said it had no place in American politics or the Democratic Party.
The pushback, though, does not come with a clean partisan line. Adam Kinzinger said the tactic was no surprise because Democrats had used similar plays during the Biden years, a remark that landed awkwardly even as Democrats accused Republicans of meddling now. Adam Gray was blunter, saying Republicans were going into Democratic primaries and trying to boost the most extreme candidates while opposing Blue Dog-endorsed moderates who, if they won, would be better positioned in the general election.
What has sharpened the dispute is the paper trail. Axios reported that the two PACs share the same bank in FEC filings and use the same compliance filing software that has been used by Republicans in the past, details Democrats are pointing to as evidence of a Republican link. On that basis, the fight is no longer just about one offensive candidate in Texas. It is about whether outside money is being used to quietly pick the weaker Democrat before voters ever get to the general election.
That is the question left hanging now: whether the filings, banking records and software trail are enough to prove the PACs were acting for Republican interests, or whether this becomes just another hard-edged chapter in a primary season where each side says the other started it.
