AI companies, the cryptocurrency industry and pro-Israel groups are spending like never before to sink their least favorite members of Congress and congressional candidates. Why it matters: The volume cannot be ignored. It's the kind of spending that can kill careers and stop political movements in their tracks. - Pro-Israel groups spent nearly $8 million to oust GOP Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th District, helping to fuel the most expensive House primary in American history. - Crypto-aligned Protect Progress was by far the largest spender in Texas' 18th District, pouring nearly $5 million into unseating longtime Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) in favor of freshman Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas). By the numbers: Eight of the 12 top…
Progressives plan to exert more pressure in Democratic congressional primaries to get the left to coalesce behind one viable candidate rather than split the vote and create an opening for moderates, Axios has learned. Why it matters: This new strategy reflects how progressives are adapting after a bruising Illinois primary night in which they won just one of the four open House races they were targeting. - It was a disappointing result for the left after their shock win in a New Jersey special election last month to replace now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill. - "I think because we had these wins, the progressive movement is like, 'Okay, we're going to win everywhere,'" Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told Axios. - The California Democrat, who endorsed…
Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won Illinois’ marquee Senate primary Tuesday to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin. In a highly contested Democratic primary race, Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanston, Ill., beat out progressive newcomer Kat Abughazaleh in the state's 9th Congressional District. NewsNation’s Nick Smith breaks down the election results. #Election #Illinois #Primary Start your day with "Morning in America," NewsNation's live three-hour national morning newscast hosted by Markie Martin. Weekdays starting at 6a/5C. #MorningInAmerica NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.
The left suffered a virtually total collapse in the Illinois Democratic congressional primaries on Tuesday night — even in races where the AIPAC-backed candidate lost. Why it matters: It's a bad sign for the dozens of insurgent Democrats running in congressional races across the country, both in open seats and as primary rivals to older or more establishment-oriented incumbents. - It's great news for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is most popular among the moderate and mainstream liberal wings of his party. - Most of the Democratic House candidates who have refused to commit to supporting Jeffries for leader or speaker are leftist insurgents. Driving the news: Kat Abughazaleh , a left-wing influencer and…
The pro-Israel group AIPAC notched some much-needed victories on Tuesday night in Illinois, with two Democratic House candidates it backed winning their races. Why it matters: Long a big spender in Democratic politics, AIPAC's reputation within the party's grassroots has never been worse. And yet, with some delicate maneuvering, it proved it can still use its massive campaign war-chest to devastating effect. - The group largely disguised the millions it spent across four Illinois House races, funneling money through PACs with anodyne names like Elect Chicago Women and Chicago Progressive Partnership. - The latter group targeted pro-Palestinian progressives by going after their leftist bona fides — essentially accusing them of being…
Biss, the mayor of Evanston, Ill., topped political newcomer Kat Abughazaleh, a first-time candidate who ran as an unapologetic progressive in the race to succeed longtime incumbent Jan Schakowsky.
