A shadowy Democratic group is backing extreme candidates in an effort to steal votes from Republicans in battleground states, according to the Associated Press.
Many unconventional candidates have run against Republican opponents in battleground states, but they've all been backed by the same shadowy organization: Patriots Run Project.
This group Adopted Supporters of former President Donald Trump are running as independents in battleground states of Nebraska, Montana, Virginia, Minnesota and Iowa. Many of the candidates describe themselves as retired, disabled or both.
An Associated Press investigation found that the agency is funded in part by Democratic consulting firms.
“At the time I thought it would be nice to be in Congress and work with President Trump. Now it seems like a dirty trick,” said Joseph Widelien, an ardent Trump supporter.
Widerien said he was encouraged to run against Iowa's first Republican congressman, Rep. Zach Nunn, before dropping out.
Nunn said in a statement on Monday:
First, they stole my military record. And now they're trying to steal this election. As an Air Force Colonel, I raised my right hand and swore an oath to protect and defend our democracy. I am outraged when I see anyone prey on hardworking Iowans or mislead voters.
This does not change my mission to deliver results for Iowa families and hold bad actors accountable — not only for their deceptive actions, but for the failed policies that make life harder for all Iowans.
Other Republicans in battleground districts, including Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Iowa), Rep. Jen Kiggens (R-Va.), Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) and Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-Iowa), have also been targeted in the tactics.
The Patriot Run Project ran several pro-Trump pages and ads on Facebook that used apocalyptic rhetoric to attack incumbent Republicans and encourage outsiders to run.
“We need American patriots like you to stand up for freedom with President Trump and run for office to take power back from the globalist elite,” one such ad said.
The project will connect recruits with operatives via text, email and phone calls and tell them how to run for Congress.
Facebook later said it had taken over the pages and received $48,000 in advertising fees from the group.
The plan appears to have originated with a Democratic consulting firm, according to the Associated Press.
Records show Sole Strategies made nearly $1.8 million over the past four years working primarily for Democratic candidates and causes, including a number of Democratic congressional representatives and candidates. Jones said Common Sense America collected signatures for her campaign.
According to the draft contract, the company would receive $3,300 to collect Vera's signatures in Nebraska. The philanthropist listed in the contract as purchasing its services is Carolyn Cohen of Nyack, New York, a registered Democrat with a history of supporting liberal causes. “She doesn't comment on political donations,” said her partner, Larry Miller.
“Based on what's been described, there could be a wide range of federal and state criminal violations,” said Jason Torchinsky, a prominent Republican election lawyer and former Justice Department official.
Rick Hazen, a law professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said the project appears “unethical,” but added that “whether the law was violated is difficult to determine because it depends not only on the facts but also on state statutes and precedents.”
Will Reinert, spokesman for the Republican National Congressional Committee (NRCC), said “The Democrats' corrupt plan is a threat to our democracy,” he said in a statement Monday.
Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on X Sean Moran 3.
