Politics
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A secretive super PAC that has been tied to Republicans has spent more than $300,000 in the Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, part of a pattern of spending in competitive nominating races across the country.
Real Change PAC reported the spending on ad placements and production through its media vendor to the Federal Election Commission. Though the material was not immediately available, the filing was dated Tuesday and showed spending to support State Auditor Matt Dunlap of Old Town and oppose state Sen. Joe Baldacci of Bangor.
The money landed as candidates were already trading accusations over outside money in one of the most competitive House districts in the country, where former Republican Gov. Paul LePage is waiting to face whichever Democrat emerges from the June 9 primary.
A University of New Hampshire poll out Wednesday showed the four-way race far tighter than recent surveys suggested, with no candidate cracking 25%. The leader was former political operative Jordan Wood of Auburn. A fourth candidate, political newcomer Paige Loud of Old Town, will also be on next month’s ballot.
Real Change is a newly formed and almost untraceable super PAC that has spent heavily in at least five other Democratic primaries across the country, according to Punchbowl News. Its mail vendor was recently incorporated by the same company at the same Wyoming address as the firm for Lead Left PAC, another group spending in Democratic primaries.
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The Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with House Republican leaders, has declined to say whether it has any connection to either group and did not immediately respond to a Wednesday request for comment. Progressive journalist Judd Legum linked Lead Left to that group through a political compliance firm.
Real Change made headlines in New Jersey last week by spending in a district where it has targeted a former Navy helicopter pilot whom many Democrats view as a strong candidate against a Republican incumbent, praising her primary opponents for their willingness to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lead Left boosted a Texas Democrat who made antisemitic remarks and lost a Tuesday primary to the party’s preferred candidate.
Baldacci is backed by House Democrats’ campaign arm and has benefited from $250,000 in outside spending from Project 218, a group tied to the hosts of “Pod Save America.” Both of those moves have spurred infighting during a primary that has featured lots of agreement and a generally more progressive direction than departing Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.
“Washington Republicans know Joe Baldacci is the one candidate who can beat Paul LePage and hold Trump accountable, so they are propping up Matt Dunlap with hundreds of thousands of dollars in support from a dark money, MAGA-connected super PAC,” Baldacci strategist Jared Bornstein said of Real Change’s move.
Dunlap noted the spending from Project 218 in a statement, noting that Baldacci hasn’t answered his call for all outside groups to stop playing in the race.
“I do not want super PAC support in this primary,” Dunlap said. “I am calling on every group spending in this race to stop today. The people of Maine should decide this race. Not billionaires. Not outside groups.”
Wood issued a statement saying the spending shows Republican interests are trying to pick Maine’s nominee.
“Out-of-state Republicans are now flooding this race with money,” he said. “Mainers don’t want Donald Trump or MAGA Republicans to decide who our nominee will be.”
