Republican-linked PACs funding Democratic US primaries: Why it matters

Political campaign groups linked to the Republican Party in the United States have reportedly been funding Democratic candidates in ongoing primaries in an effort to boost “weak” candidates they believe are likely to be defeated by Republicans ahead of midterm elections in November. US media outlets have reported claims of this happening in New Jersey, Maine, Texas, Pennsylvania and Nebraska. Recommended Stories list of 4 items end of list The midterms often serve as a litmus test of a US administration’s popularity and can decide which party controls Congress – control that will be vital for the success of US President Donald Trump’s policies for his final two years in office. Democrats are currently a minority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but are pushing to flip the two chambers in November. Here’s what we know about the Republican-linked groups, known as political action committees (PACs), that are believed to be funding Democratic Party candidates: Rebecca Bennett, Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, holds her daughter Rosie, alongside her husband Alex Hydrean and daughter Millie, at a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Bridgewater, New Jersey, the US [Ryan Murphy/AP] What are PACs? PACs (political action committees) are independent organisations that raise funds in order to lobby for or against a political party or candidate during elections. …