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How Democratic leadership sank $40 million meant to defend key seats on a gamble that backfired
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Democrats, already lagging behind Republicans in midterm campaign fundraising, relied heavily on a House Democratic-aligned dark-money group in an attempt to redraw Virginia’s congressional map in their favor, campaign finance records show.
Before voters cast their ballots in Virginia’s April redistricting referendum, the 10 wealthiest Republican-aligned political committees had close to twice as much cash on hand as their Democratic counterparts, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Despite this, Democratic-aligned groups poured more than $64 million into their attempt to net four congressional seats by redrawing Virginia’s congressional map, a bet that ultimately failed to pay off after the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated the redistricting process due to a procedural constitutional violation.
«House Democratic candidates are pulling in massive fundraising hauls, outraising their GOP opponents last quarter, and the DCCC just had its best quarter of fundraising for the cycle,» Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
DARK MONEY FLOODS VIRGINIA AHEAD OF REDISTRICTING VOTE THAT COULD HAND DEMOCRATS HOUSE EDGE
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 20, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«While Republicans brag about their billionaire backers, Democrats are focused on building support amongst the people – and by every measure, we are poised to take back the majority and make Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker of the People’s House,» Shelton added.
Of the total Democratic spending on the Virginia redistricting election, roughly $40 million in contributions came from House Majority Forward, a Democratic-aligned 501(c)(4) nonprofit affiliated with House Majority PAC, the super PAC backing House Democrats.
Some Democratic strategists have argued the political environment remains favorable, but party insiders have warned that the GOP’s cash advantage could blunt those gains.
«I don’t think it has broken through, the level of money that Donald Trump and Republicans are sitting on as it compares to Democrats,» Mike Smith, who leads House Majority Forward and the affiliated House Majority PAC, told NOTUS in April. «I don’t think there’s a comprehensive understanding of both the level of disparity and what that could mean in terms of us being able to win the House.»
Smith did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
At the end of March, the 10 biggest Republican political committees had nearly $1 billion in cash on hand, compared to the approximately $550 million held by their 10 richest Democratic counterparts, per FEC data. The wealthiest GOP committees included President Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc. and the Senate Leadership Fund, which is affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Democrats, meanwhile, were led by the Soros family’s Democracy PACs and the Senate Majority PAC.
«So-called ‘Leader’ Hakeem Jeffries lit well north of $55 million on fire chasing illegal redistricting fantasies, only to fall flat on his face in spectacular fashion,» National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital. «National Democrats are already drowning in a massive cash deficit against Republicans while the NRCC and our battle-tested candidates continue shattering fundraising records and building momentum for 2026.»
The «well north of $55 million» Marinella referred to included the $17 million House Majority PAC spent on the successful redistricting effort in California.
Aside from the financial role the Democrat-aligned committee played in Virginia’s redistricting effort, the House minority leader was a leading surrogate for the campaign. He delivered speeches in favor of redistricting, characterizing the effort as a response to GOP map changes and raising the stakes by declaring Virginia the «crown jewel» of a national battle over congressional maps.
REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISING OUTPACES DEMOCRATS BY NEARLY DOUBLE, JUNE NUMBERS SHOW
George Soros, billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC, walks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23, 2020. (Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«Jeffries is proving he’s no Nancy Pelosi, and Democrats are getting an expensive lesson in the difference between media hype and actual leadership,» Marinella continued.
Pelosi was one of her party’s most prolific fundraisers, raising over $1 billion for the party between her appointment as House Minority Whip in 2002 and her resignation from Democratic leadership in 2022, according to CBS News. Sources have told the New York Post that Pelosi retains considerable influence over the operations of House Democrats, which has allegedly irritated Jeffries.
«Speaker Emerita Pelosi is exceptionally proud of Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his masterful strategy to fight fire with fire on the path to retaking the House in November,» a spokesman for the former speaker told Fox News Digital.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’, D-N.Y, office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
House Majority Forward has historically been one of the primary sources of funds for the House Majority PAC, a major Democratic committee affiliated with Democrat leaders, that itself is one of the top sources of cash for congressional Democrats, according to FEC filings. House Majority Forward and House Majority PAC are sister organizations.
«HMF’s support matched the $40 million Republicans invested in the recent redistricting election, and once again their pro-war, costs-raising, toxic agenda was soundly rejected by Virginians,» House Majority Forward communications director CJ Warnke told Fox News Digital. «No amount of GOP money will prevent Leader Hakeem Jeffries from becoming the next Speaker of the House.»
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, center, addresses reporters while flanked by Democrats. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
LEFT-WING BILLIONAIRES BANKROLL DEM SUPER PAC PLOTTING TO WIN BACK WORKING-CLASS VOTERS: ‘THIS IS A PRIORITY’
House Majority Forward is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that is not required to publicly disclose its donors. Its contributions allow money from undisclosed donors to move into the political process through publicly reported donations to House Majority PAC.
While Republicans are financially dominant across major committees, Democrats have built considerable leads at the campaign level in some key congressional races.
Democratic candidates have raised more than their GOP opponents in closely watched Senate races in Georgia, Alaska, Ohio, Michigan and Maine, according to campaign finance data analyzed by NPR. Thirteen Republicans running in hotly contested House races have been out raised by Democratic challengers, compared to just four Democrats defending competitive seats who were out raised, Roll Call reported.
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Republican members of Congress in toss-up seats, however, raised more on average than Democrats defending similarly competitive seats during the first three months of 2026, according to campaign finance records.
«Republicans are being rewarded with endless big, dark, special interest money from the billionaires they gave a tax break after cutting trillions from Americans’ health care in their Big, Ugly Bill,» the Pelosi spokesman continued. «Democrats may not have unlimited resources from billionaires, but we will have enough grassroots support to organize and win a resounding victory to elect Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House.»
midterm elections, republicans elections, democrats, fund raising, house of representatives
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Reporter’s Notebook: GOP bets on fraud crackdown as economic woes surge ahead of midterms
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The GOP’s campaign message about a porous border resonated with voters in 2024. Voters routinely listed border security as the first or second most important issue to them in multiple polls ahead of the last election.
But how about ahead of the midterms?
Well, the border is sealed. The nation’s economic outlook is shaky as the war in Iran drags on. Gas prices are skyrocketing. And the hallmark of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda — The One Big Beautiful Bill — hasn’t materialized as a campaign juggernaut.
HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE ‘ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’: WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS
President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 2026. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
So Republicans are seeking an issue they hope will connect with voters this fall.
They may have settled on fraud. And returned to a favorite old punching bag.
«I’m just going to give you a couple facts,» declared House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., at the GOP’s weekly press conference Wednesday morning. «The Biden Administration thought it was really important to spend $20 million for Sesame Street in the Middle East. They gave $8 million to make mice transgender.»
McClain continued about the Biden Administration providing «free housing and cars for illegals,» adding that «under Biden federal agencies handed out taxpayer dollars with weak oversight, loose control and almost no accountability.»
The government weaponization fund waylaid Congressional Republicans. They’re still trying to figure out what to shove into some sort of an economic package which they can pitch to the voters this fall. So for now, Republicans are focusing on fraud.
«Crazy says fraudsters should be protected. Crazy says the American people’s hard earned tax dollars should be given to criminals who are stealing their money. That’s crazy,» said McClain.
TRUMP SAYS ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS ARE UNCOVERING BILLIONS IN WASTE, CLAIMS SAVINGS COULD BALANCE BUDGET
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., leaves a House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on Feb. 28, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
House Republicans planned debate on three bills this week to root out fraud in government programs. One bill would enhance oversight over childcare block grants. Another bill would help prevent people from bilking a program which provides emergency aid to society’s most needy. A third measure would target «ghost students» and crack down on fraud in student aid programs.
«The integrity of the programs matter because the taxpayers are not going to support them when they’re filled up with fraud. And it doesn’t matter if it’s child care or SNAP. The American citizens want the fraud eliminated from the system,» argued Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.
Some Democrats found the anti-fraud message to be a little absurd.
«They’re not dealing with affordability. The President is saying he’s not concerned. Second, all of us are against fraud. I’ve yet to meet any politician who, when asked ‘Are you for fraud?’ says ‘Yes.» We’re all against it,» said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.
Another Democrat believes Republicans are focusing on the wrong things with fraud.
«What I would love to see is an investigation of fraud and corruption involving the Trump administration, and the Trump family. There’s not a day that goes by that there’s another story about Trump kids benefiting from some government contract,» said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
On Wednesday, Republicans launched a hearing probing alleged Medicaid fraud in Ohio. This came after they unearthed various forms of fraud in Minnesota. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, claims that bad actors from the Somali community operate in both states.
I’M OHIO’S STATE AUDITOR — MEDICAID FRAUD IS NOT JUST A WASHINGTON PROBLEM
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, leaves a House Republican Conference meeting in the U.S. Capitol on June 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«You’ve got the largest Somali population in the United States is in Minnesota. The second largest in the United States is in Ohio. Now, it’s not politically correct to say, but the reality is this fraud is coming predominantly from that community,» said Gill.
At the hearing, Gill charged that Somalis «are moving from Ohio to Minnesota and back to Ohio.» He added that «it certainly seems to have some overlap.»
Gill tangled with Democrat Ohio State Sen. Nickie Antonio.
«Would you like to see more immigration from Somalia?» Gill asked the state lawmaker.
«As far as I’m processing your question, I have to say that I was almost brought to tears just now,» replied Antonio.
The two yelled over one another.
«Seventy percent of Somali immigrants are on welfare,» said Gill.
«The rate and the level of hateful rhetoric is based on false information is shocking to me,» responded Antonio.
«They’re defrauding your state at an astounding rate. Most Ohioans have a problem with that,» piled on Gill.
But Antonio pushed back, arguing that Republicans have controlled key positions of power in the Buckeye State for the past 15 years.
«[Republicans] hold the House, the Senate, the governor’s office and four statewide offices. If there is fraud in Medicaid, it has happened on the Republican majority’s watch. Perhaps it’s time to clean Ohio’s house,» rebutted Antonio.
MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING SPARKS IMMIGRATION CLASH AS GOP LAWMAKER SPOTLIGHTS SOMALI WELFARE DATA
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, joined by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, holds a news conference after a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
A recent Fox poll found that more than 70 percent of those surveyed believe fraud is «very common» in government welfare programs. Since it’s an election year, Republicans hoped to dare Democrats to oppose their anti-fraud efforts when the bills hit the floor.
«For some of the Democrats who might vote against the fraud bills today, will you guys try to weaponize and boomerang those on members who vote no today?» yours truly asked House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.
«I think their own voters are going to be questioning that,» replied Scalise. «If Democrats vote no on that, it’s going to a hard vote to explain.»
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y, opposed the GOP’s anti-fraud efforts. But he gave Democrats from battleground districts a wide berth to decide what to do.
«Democrats are going to make a decision based on what’s the right thing to do for the district that they represent. And I trust every single Democrat, particularly those who are in swing districts, to do the right thing for the people that they’re privileged to represent,» said Jeffries.
On Wednesday afternoon, the House passed the childcare fraud bill. Only four Democrats voted yea.
GOP MUST RACE FOR NEW ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ TO SLASH COSTS BEFORE MIDTERMS, TOP HOUSE REPUBLICANS WARN
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries holds a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2026. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg)
But Republicans yanked the bill focused on fraud in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) bill. The reason? One senior House GOP leadership source said the bill lacked the votes and «needed a little work.» Another Republican source said attendance issues among Republicans might inhibit passage of the bill.
So what about the ghost student bills? Well, that measure was a legislative phantasm. The House didn’t conduct votes until Wednesday this week. The House then ghosted everyone on Friday, leaving the Capitol a day earlier than planned.
This trio of fraud measures are «messaging» bills in Congress. It’s doubtful that these plans will become law. But the leadership believes it’s important to «message» a subject like this to voters. And also point to votes where Democrats opposed such efforts.
But for all of the focus on fraud by House Republicans, they only managed to pass one of their three messaging bills this week.
That’s a .333 average. Baseball old-timers Paul Waner and Eddie Collins both boasted .333 batting averages for their career. They’re in the baseball Hall of Fame. But a .333 average isn’t Cooperstown-worthy on Capitol Hill.
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That said, Republicans will tee up several other anti-fraud measures next week. So there’s a reprieve. However, if the GOP doesn’t bat 1.000 on their fraud bills next week, some voters may designate them for assignment.
Or maybe ghost them at the polls.
politics, midterm elections, democrats elections, republicans, minnesota fraud exposed, bills
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Ex-counterterrorism official Joe Kent endorses GOP Senate primary challenger as Trump backs Lindsey Graham
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Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent endorsed South Carolina U.S. Senate primary candidate Mark Lynch, calling incumbent GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham a «war hawk, neocon.»
South Carolinians who would like to «stop sending billions of dollars overseas» and «stop us from getting entangled in endless foreign wars in the Middle East,» have the opportunity «to do all of us a great service and vote to get Lindsey Graham out of office this Tuesday, June 9th,» Kent declared in part of a video message posted to social media on Thursday.
«Vote for Mark Lynch,» Kent urged, calling Lynch «the America First candidate» and asserting that Lynch «is the best postured right now to get the war hawk, neocon, Lindsey Graham out of office.»
Graham campaign press secretary Abby Zilch said in a statement to Fox News Digital, «Mark Lynch is touting an endorsement from a man that President Trump called a ‘SLEAZEBAG,’ ‘LEAKER,’ and a ‘LOSER.’»
EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF WARNS OF ‘MAJOR PROBLEM’ THAT COULD FORCE US ‘BACK INTO THE WAR ON IRAN’S TERMS’
Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 11, 2025. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«This is to be expected since Lynch wants ‘more Massies’ in Congress,» Zilch wrote. «Senator Graham is proud to have the complete and total endorsements of President Trump, Governor McMaster, Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Russell Fry, Congressman Joe Wilson, Congressman William Timmons, National Right to Life, SC Citizens for Life, Tea Party Express, and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Lynch’s campaign on Friday. The candidate noted in a Thursday post on X that he was «honored» to have Kent’s endorsement.
Trump, who endorsed Graham for re-election last year, blasted Lynch in a Truth Social post earlier this year.
«Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job. He is running against a LUNATIC named Mark Lynch, who supports perhaps the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky. I don’t have to go into great detail, but needless to say, Mark Lynch would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party, and Lindsey Graham just, GETS THE JOB DONE. VOTE FOR LINDSEY ALL THE WAY. MAGA!» Trump declared in the April Truth Social post.
Lynch has previously expressed support for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who lost his GOP primary in Kentucky last month.
«We need more MTGs and Gaetzes and Massies. Zero question about it,» Lynch wrote in a March post on X, referring to former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Rep. Matt Gaetz and Massie.
Massie, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since late 2012, lost the Republican congressional primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District last month to Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.
In part of a Thursday Truth Social post, Trump declared, «This Tuesday, June 9th, all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham — HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!»
FOUR SENATE REPUBLICANS AGAIN UNITE WITH DEMS TO BLOCK TRUMP’S SAVE AMERICA ACT
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Lynch speaks at a Freedom Friday event in at Momma Rabbit’s Nibbles and Sips in Lexington, S.C., on June 25, 2025. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Kent quit his government post back in March, citing his opposition to the Iran war.
«I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,» Kent wrote in his resignation letter.
Trump said in part of an April Truth Social post that Kent «was really a SLEAZEBAG, and some would say, on top of it all, A LEAKER!» The president added he didn’t «know whether or not that was true» and called Kent «a LOSER.»
LINDSEY GRAHAM WARNS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS TRYING TO ‘DESTROY’ TRUMP IS A LOSING GAME AFTER CASSIDY DEFEAT
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., reacts as President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Graham has served in the U.S. Senate since 2003.
politics, lindsey graham, republicans, senate elections, south carolina
Reporter’s Notebook: GOP bets on fraud crackdown as economic woes surge ahead of midterms
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