Why It Matters
A Colorado-based super PAC, Progressive Champions PAC, has directed its spending against Democratic candidates while supporting Green Party and independent candidates in competitive congressional races. Its largest target is Democrat Cait Conley in New York's 17th U.S. House District, where she faces incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). The committee's spending pattern contrasts with its stated mission of electing progressive candidates.
The group's website, as reported by Popular Information, describes its mission as electing "bold, progressive candidates up and down the ballot." However, it has spent money on Democratic candidates in New York, Michigan, and Virginia while supporting third-party and independent alternatives in the latter two states.
Popular Information reported that Progressive Champions PAC was among several ostensibly progressive committees suspected of participating in Republican efforts to influence Democratic primaries. The Washington Post and Axios also documented Republican-linked organizations' involvement in similar efforts. Those reports raise questions about the committee's political affiliations, although its spending pattern alone does not establish coordination with Republican campaigns.
What It Spends
Progressive Champions PAC has reported approximately $1.73 million in outside spending, including about $1.61 million opposing Democratic candidates and $123,000 supporting Green Party and independent candidates, according to the figures supplied for this article. The committee's regular FEC filings and late independent expenditure notices must be reconciled to confirm the complete total.
The committee's largest expenditure was $1.5 million opposing Conley in New York's 17th District. An FEC independent expenditure notice identifies June 11 as the obligation date and June 12 as the public dissemination date. The committee made the expenditure during the Democratic primary, before Conley became the party's general election nominee.
In Michigan's 4th District, the committee reportedly spent $58,000 opposing Democrat Sean McCann and $65,000 supporting Green Party candidate Shafina Che Barnett. McCann faces incumbent Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI).
In Virginia's 2nd U.S. House District, the committee reportedly spent $50,000 opposing former Rep. Elaine G. Luria, the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and $58,000 supporting independent candidate Matthew Baker.
Who Funds It
Progressive Champions PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on May 11 as an independent expenditure-only committee.
Its financial reports show approximately $1.71 million in receipts, $1.70 million in disbursements, and $13,455 in cash on hand through the reporting period ending Sept. 30. The committee's reported receipts include contributions from Conservative Americans PAC and transactions involving Direct Media Services.
FEC-derived contribution records identify two contributions from Conservative Americans PAC: $1.5 million on June 8 and $50,000 on June 10. Together, those contributions account for approximately $1.55 million of the committee's reported receipts. The original draft claimed that Conservative Americans PAC contributed $3.1 million across four transfers, but that claim could not be reconciled with the available receipts data and should not be published without additional transaction-level evidence.
Popular Information reported that Conservative Americans PAC received funding from the American Prosperity Alliance, a Republican-aligned nonprofit associated with a broader network of political organizations. The publication also documented financial and operational connections among several committees presenting themselves as progressive organizations.
Progressive Champions PAC's relationship to that network drew scrutiny because of similar filing practices and other reported connections. However, those circumstances do not, on their own, establish that Progressive Champions PAC coordinated its expenditures with a Republican campaign or another committee.
The Ad Buy
The committee's largest advertising operation involved Direct Media Services, which handled media placement and production for its campaign opposing Conley. Reporting on the ads indicates they criticized Conley from the left, including her work for a technology company tied to the Department of Homeland Security.
The committee subsequently reported advertising and voter-contact activity involving AGAM LLC in Michigan and Virginia. The described expenditures covered printing, postage, and text messaging associated with opposition to McCann and Luria and support for Barnett and Baker.
Other Spenders in the Same Races
In New York's 17th District, the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), Safety & Affordability PAC Inc., and other outside groups have spent money opposing Conley or supporting Lawler. Democratic-aligned organizations, including House Majority PAC, have reported spending to oppose Lawler.
In Michigan's 4th District, No Going Back PAC Inc. has reported spending to oppose McCann and support Huizenga, while House Majority PAC and the League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund have spent to oppose Huizenga.
Progressive Champions PAC's expenditures therefore overlap with the electoral objectives of some Republican-aligned outside groups, even though the committee presents itself as progressive. That overlap helps explain the spending pattern but does not, by itself, establish coordination between the organizations.
You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.
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