The Conservative Americans PAC has financed a series of outside efforts tied to multiple primary election races in which they tried to elevate weaker Democrat candidates over their stronger primary opponents.

The group participated in contests across Nebraska’s 2nd District, Pennsylvania’s 7th, Texas’ 35th, New Jersey’s 7th, and Maine’s 2nd District, including working alongside affiliated political action committees (PACs) such as Lead Left PAC and Real Change PAC, according to documents obtained by the Daily Caller. Conservative Americans PAC admits it aimed to influence Democrat primary elections, boosting weaker Democrat candidates for the benefit of Republicans in November’s general election.

Since its founding in 2022, Conservative Americans PAC says it has directed millions of dollars toward supporting a range of affiliated political efforts nationwide, including activity in the Texas and Kentucky Senate races, Republican primaries in several states, and the 2024 cycle focused on shaping GOP primary outcomes following the removal of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

The organization also pushed back on its characterization as “McCarthy-linked,” saying it has been inaccurately labeled as such because of its involvement in those races. It states that former Speaker McCarthy has no affiliation with the group, its activities, or its funder, Americans for Prosperity Alliance (APA). Under federal law, APA is not required to disclose its donors or funding sources.

Conservative Americans PAC has focused negative messaging in Democrat primaries on issues such as a candidate’s support for ICE abolition, Medicare for All, and opposition to President Donald Trump. In effect, these negative ads serve to boost more radical Democrat candidates in an appeal to more ideologically pure Democrat primary voters.

The group’s approach appears to be based on the belief that more radical positions popular with Democrat primary voters can make candidates less competitive in a general election, as some operatives see it. Several other affiliated groups run campaign ads with the opposite objective, using a candidate’s proximity to pro-Trump policies — for instance — to undermine their support in a Democratic primary.

Across five races examined, Conservative Americans PAC and its affiliated outside groups collectively spent about $18.1 million, according to the documents. Lead Left PAC and Real Change PAC accounted for roughly $4.3 million of that total, though neither was the top outside spender in any of the contests.

Spokeswoman for Conservative Americans PAC, Samantha Bullock, wrote to the Caller, “After over a decade of Democrats meddling in our primaries and with radical politicians ascending in the Democrat Party, Republicans are evening the playing field. To quote Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, ‘These clowns have been playing checkers, and we’re going to continue to play three-dimensional chess.’”

In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Lead Left PAC spent $435,225 opposing Democratic state Sen. John Cavanaugh, framing him as a candidate who would align with President Donald Trump over fellow Democrats. The effort coincided with Denise Powell’s victory in the primary.

Meanwhile, actual Democrat-aligned groups including the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and Progressive Promise spent roughly $400,000 supporting Cavanaugh.

In Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, a similar dynamic unfolded. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)-backed candidate, Democrat Maine state Sen. Joe Baldacci, was defeated in the Democratic primary after ranked-choice tabulation, underscoring how outside spending shaped multiple contests across the cycle.

The race drew attention amid ongoing speculation about outside groups attempting to shape primary outcomes by supporting candidates whom some operatives view as less competitive in a general election context.

Following the final count, State Auditor Matt Dunlap secured the nomination. Inside Elections later rated the district “Likely Republican,” underscoring the perceived general-election environment as the dust settled from the primary.

Axios has also reported a “nationwide Republican effort to elevate Democratic primary candidates viewed as more beatable in November,” a dynamic it said caused concern among Democrats. Meanwhile, Politico recently described how Republican-aligned super PACs were “trying to elevate weaker Democrats against Republicans to ease the GOP’s path in November.”

Democrats, however, have long operated using the same tactics. A range of outside groups — including the DCCC and progressive-aligned PACs — have engaged in significant Republican primary spending this cycle.

The New York Times reported that “meddling in Republican primaries has become a regular tactic for Democrats in recent years,” while “Democrats meddling in GOP primaries isn’t hypocritical, it’s necessary,” Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. declared in 2024.

As previously reported, Democratic-aligned groups have at times sought to elevate candidates viewed as “less-electable, more-controversial Republican nominees in the general elections,” according to The Hill.

So far this cycle, Democratic-aligned outside groups have spent roughly $44 million across 18 targeted competitive Democrat primaries. The Conservative Americans PAC’s affiliated Lead Left PAC and Real Change PAC account for just over $4 million of the Democrat primary spending, according to the documents reviewed by the Caller

Republican officials and aligned groups have said Democrat meddling in Republican primaries has received less scrutiny, citing broader spending totals across cycles — including how those resources are split between primary and general-election efforts.

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