Democrats Grapple with Surge of Outside Spending in Primaries

Party leaders condemn 'dark money' influence as special interest groups flood key races with campaign cash

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:29am

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and fragments of political imagery in shades of blue, green, and gold, conveying the chaotic influence of outside money in Democratic primaries.The influx of outside spending from special interest groups has disrupted the normal dynamics of Democratic primary campaigns, creating new challenges for party unity.New Orleans Today

As Democrats fight to regain control of Congress, outside groups affiliated with organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence have dominated the airwaves in key primary races, sometimes leaving candidates on the sidelines of their own campaigns. The Democratic National Committee voted to condemn the surge in spending, though some progressives wanted language to target specific groups like AIPAC. The flood of money has exacerbated tensions within the party, with candidates who lost blaming special interests and those still running courting voters by denouncing deep-pocketed outside groups.

Why it matters

The influx of outside spending in Democratic primaries highlights the growing influence of special interest groups and 'dark money' in the political process, which some see as undermining the ability of candidates to control their own campaigns and messaging. This issue has divided the party, with progressives pushing for stronger action against super PACs and other unregulated campaign finance, while others warn against weakening Democrats in the general election against a Republican Party that is also benefiting from such spending.

The details

In the 2022 midterm primaries, outside groups have spent over $125 million across five open Democratic House races in Illinois alone, exceeding candidate spending in all but one of those races. The top three spenders in Illinois House races were groups affiliated with AIPAC, followed by a cryptocurrency-affiliated organization called Fairshake. While the DNC voted to condemn the 'influence of unregulated dark money' in Democratic primaries, some progressives wanted language specifically targeting AIPAC and other groups. There are concerns that the surge in outside spending could damage the Democratic Party in the long run by creating divisions within the caucus.

  • The DNC voted on the resolution condemning outside spending at its spring meeting in New Orleans in 2026.

The players

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

The Democratic Party's national organization that oversees the party's overall strategy and operations.

Ken Martin

Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Hakeem Jeffries

House Minority Leader for the Democratic Party.

Larry Cohen

Co-chair of the progressive group Our Revolution, founded by Senator Bernie Sanders.

Ro Khanna

A progressive Democratic Congressman and possible 2028 presidential contender who co-chaired Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely a brave new world. We're not talking about doubling of campaign expenditures. We're talking about 10 times or 20 times more.”

— Zac McCrary, Democratic pollster

“All that's been completely smashed now. You're going to hand Jeffries a caucus that is divided.”

— Dan Sena, Former executive director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

“We should eliminate any super PAC in a Democratic primary. And I think every presidential candidate in 2028 should pledge that they will not have any super PAC spending in a Democratic primary. That should be a litmus test. If you're not willing to take that pledge, then you're part of the problem.”

— Ro Khanna, Democratic Congressman

What’s next

The DNC is expected to continue discussions and potentially take further action to address the influence of outside spending in Democratic primaries, though any measures would likely face opposition from those who warn against weakening the party in the general election.

The takeaway

The surge of outside spending in Democratic primaries has exacerbated divisions within the party, with progressives pushing for stronger action against 'dark money' and the party establishment concerned about tying their hands against well-funded Republican opponents. This issue highlights the broader challenge of campaign finance reform and the ongoing struggle to limit the influence of special interests in the political process.