Key Highlights
- Big-money Super PACs are using partners to hide spending from pro-Israel groups in Democratic primaries.
- Kaela Berg faces scrutiny despite opposing Israel policy while receiving funding linked to DMFI and UDP.
- Matt Little leads polling but faces a 9-to-1 disadvantage on outside money support for opponents over him by PACs.
- FEC disclosures show specific disbursements through June 30 with no direct AIPAC transfers found yet for some groups.
You might think this is new, but the machinery of political finance has always been about hiding money in plain sight. Voters see support from neutral-sounding groups rather than pro-Israel organizations that have become toxic to Democratic voters. It creates a strange disconnect where candidates benefit from outside spending while opposing unconditional military aid for Israel.
The Money Laundering Scheme
Throughout this election cycle, big-money super PACs like AIPAC affiliate United Democracy Project and Democratic Majority for Israel have laundered their political spending by transferring millions of dollars to other PACs.
BOLD America has taken $1.55 million from United Democracy Project this cycle to support Hispanic candidates.
Berg’s Contradiction
Kaela Berg is getting outside support including over $550,000 from Women Vote and $415,000 from Pro-Choice Majority Action. She supports ending Israeli settlements in the West Bank yet Elect Democratic Women has received $1.35 million from United Democracy Project.
The 2024 Controversy
David Dayen notes that David Dayen There is a particular problem when candidates who might oppose unconditional military aid for Israel are also benefiting from outside spending from PACs that have partnered with pro-Israel PACs in the past.
Funds Moving Through 3.14 Action
The organization has spent $14.5 million throughout the election cycle according to disclosure data provided by sources familiar with their operations. They claim they have not taken money from AIPAC or its affiliated entities this cycle and we won’t.
Matt Klein, candidate in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District is benefiting from bundled donations from AIPAC donors going directly to his campaign via Democracy Engine fees of at least $11,000 this year. 3.14 Action Fund has not formally received any disbursements from United Democracy Project or DMFI this cycle as of the most recent Federal Election Commission disclosures through June 30.
Little vs Berg Dynamic
Matt Little is a progressive state senator who earned the critical endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He’s also endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) while Kaela Berg runs as a working-class candidate.
The Red Box
Little does have a red box on his website offering positive messages about his campaign to reject dark money because it corrupts American democracy. Bob Groven noted that his candidate was more out front on Gaza and Berg only added an Israel policy section to her website in the past few months.
The Political Stakes
A broad overview of the race shows it to be a case where two relatively progressive candidates could split the field. The seat is seen as likely Democratic in November yet outside PACs are supporting Matt Little’s opponents over Little by 9-to-1.
If Kaela Berg believes strongly that the war in Gaza is a genocide and the U.S. must not send weapons to Netanyahu then why hasn’t she renounced support from super PACs that have taken massive amounts of money from AIPAC, Groven asked.
The Final Count
An update regarding 3.14 Action response received before press time was not seen by the author until after publication has changed how we view these disclosures slightly. Still it’s undeniable that those groups have partnered with pro-Israel PACs in the past while money transferred to PACs like Women Vote are earmarked for particular candidates.
The End
< p>This attempt to transfer cash to hide spending has spread toxicity even to races where liberal women’s groups are just trying to get a liberal woman elected. Money moves fast and voters have no idea who paid whom until it is too late.