Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

cbabe

(4,236 posts)
Thu May 23, 2024, 10:51 AM May 2024

Progressives Brought Down Under Crush of AIPAC-Affiliated Money in Oregon Primaries

https://www.commondreams.org/news/progressives-lose-oregon-primaries

Progressives Brought Down Under Crush of AIPAC-Affiliated Money in Oregon Primaries

"This race showed so clearly why we need to have real campaign finance reform," said Susheela Jayapal, who lost after being outspent 30-to-1.

EDWARD CARVER
May 22, 2024

Progressives lost two Democratic primary races in Oregon on Tuesday following heavy spending by outside groups, including at least one tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which has spent heavily to oppose left-wing and pro-Palestinian candidates in races across the U.S. in recent months.

In Oregon's 3rd Congressional District, Maxine Dexter defeated Susheela Jayapal, taking 51.1% of the vote to just 28.6% for Jayapal as of Wednesday morning. Jayapal—the elder sister of Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has been critical of Israel—was seen as the most progressive candidate in the race and a potential new member of her sister's caucus. The Portland-area seat is solidly blue and Dexter is expected to win easily in the general election.

Dexter, a member of the state House, received an enormous boost from outside groups, which spent roughly $7 million in supporting her and opposing Jayapal. Pro-Israeli donors funneled $2.2 million through 314 Action Fund, a political action committee (PAC) that served as a vehicle for AIPAC donors, according toThe Intercept. Another PAC attacking Jayapal called Voters for Responsive Government, newly formed for this race, has not yet had to release its donor list. Ultimately, Dexter's supporters outspent Jayapal's 30-to-1, HuffPost reported.

"This race showed so clearly why we need to have real campaign finance reform that allows for public financing," Susheela Jayapal wrote on social media Wednesday, criticizing the role of outside super PACs, which she said timed their contributions so they wouldn't have to reveal their donors until after the primary.

…more…

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Progressives Brought Down Under Crush of AIPAC-Affiliated Money in Oregon Primaries (Original Post) cbabe May 2024 OP
They didn't lose because of AIPAC they lost comradebillyboy May 2024 #1
Thank you! I'm glad Dr Maxine Dexter Won Oregon 3 Primary.. Cha May 2024 #3
I am not a fan of the Justice Democrat group LetMyPeopleVote May 2024 #6
deleted comradebillyboy May 2024 #2
How did the 3.14 Action Fund serve as a "vehicle for AIPAC donors"? lapucelle May 2024 #4
I am very happy that Maxine Dexter won LetMyPeopleVote May 2024 #5

comradebillyboy

(10,515 posts)
1. They didn't lose because of AIPAC they lost
Thu May 23, 2024, 11:12 AM
May 2024

because the voters preferred moderate Democrats. Progressives vastly overestimate how popular they and their policies are.

Cha

(305,693 posts)
3. Thank you! I'm glad Dr Maxine Dexter Won Oregon 3 Primary..
Thu May 23, 2024, 02:31 PM
May 2024

who's very "progressive".. she just doesn't go by that label. She's Earned the Victory.

Maxine Dexter easily winning race to replace U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Blumenauer issued a statement Tuesday night congratulating her: “Maxine has proven herself to be a serious and effective legislator,” he said. “I am confident she’ll take this success with her to Washington D.C.”

The physician was not always a sure bet in the contentious race to replace Blumenauer. She announced her candidacy later than either Morales or Jayapal, and didn’t seem to bring any special advantage in terms of name recognition or political connections. That was a partial contrast to Jayapal, who was viewed as an early frontrunner in part because her younger sister, Pramila Jayapal, is a congresswoman from Seattle.

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/05/21/oregon-primary-election-3rd-congressional-district-morales-dexter-jayapal/

LetMyPeopleVote

(155,064 posts)
6. I am not a fan of the Justice Democrat group
Fri May 24, 2024, 10:01 AM
May 2024

I have been following the Justice Democrats and its predecessor for a while including the "brand new congress group" and other groups created by Cenk, Kyle Kulinksi, Zack Exley, Saikat Chakrabarti, and their ilk. I am on the Justice Democrat email list and I have even listened once or twice to the Justice Democrat podcast which is amusingly called "Just Us" democrats. The Justice Democrats emails are fun to laugh at and I love the hatred this group shows to the Democratic Party, establishment Democrats and best of all corporate democrats.

The Justice Democrat group want to take over the Democratic party and remake into their image. I also do not want the Democratic Party to be taken over by the Justice Democrat group.


I am not the only person who has issues with the concept that the Justice Democrats want to take over the Democratic Party



Again, the above posts are consistent with the hatred of the Democratic Party that I see on the almost daily emails that I get from the Justice Democrats. I admit that I enjoy the Just Us Democrat whines about AIPAC and Jews being mean.

Lately members of this group have been attacking President Biden and all Jewish Democrats. This group has been attacking Israel for a while and now this group is attacking President Biden

lapucelle

(19,542 posts)
4. How did the 3.14 Action Fund serve as a "vehicle for AIPAC donors"?
Fri May 24, 2024, 09:46 AM
May 2024
The organization's mission is to elect pro-science Democrats to office.

WHO WE ARE

We are the only organization in the nation focused on recruiting, training, and electing Democrats with a background in science to public office.

snip---------------------------------------------------------------

We are a grassroots organization powered by an average donation of just $19 and supported by 431,000 individual donors.

In total, our team directed more than $8.6 million to pro-science Democrats and helped elect over 400 endorsed candidates since our founding. This includes 4 U.S. Senators, 13 members of the U.S. House, 9 candidates for down-ballot statewide offices, and over 300 candidates at the state and municipal level.

In the 2022 cycle, nearly 70% of 314 Action candidates won their elections, including 71 non-incumbents. Three quarters of our winning candidates identify as women, people of color, or LGBTQ+. At the state-level specifically, our scientists were key to helping Democrats flip the Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania State Houses and defend vulnerable majorities in other states like Nevada in Colorado.

https://314action.org/about-us/

https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/314-action-fund/C00633248/summary/2022

https://www.influencewatch.org/political-party/314-action/



LetMyPeopleVote

(155,064 posts)
5. I am very happy that Maxine Dexter won
Fri May 24, 2024, 09:46 AM
May 2024

The nominee is a member of the MomsDemand group.





If she wins in November, Maxine will become one of four @momsdemand volunteers elected to Congress, including Lucy McBath, Marie Newman and Abigail Spanberger.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Oregon»Progressives Brought Down...