Jason,
AIPAC-aligned super PACs flooded four Illinois primaries with a whopping $22 million to crush progressive candidates.
When we wonder why asleep-at-the-wheel incumbents and establishment Democrats are out of line with the demands of the people they serve, this is why. Because $22 million buys representatives who answer to super PACs, not people.
Let me be clear — what happened last week in Illinois is a warning of what's about to come between now and November.
These super PACs showed up in Illinois to block progressive candidates and pick up seats. They're not going to stop coming for progressive leaders, so we have to be ready to fight back twice as hard, with everything we've got.
Here's what went down:
In IL-02, AIPAC's front group "Affordable Chicago Now" dropped $4.5 million to take out Robert Peters. A proven fighter who has spent his career in the state senate fighting for working people. He's raised the minimum wage, eliminated the grocery tax, and ended cash bail in Illinois. That seat now belongs to AIPAC, not the working class district Robert would've been a fearless fighter for.
In IL-08, the crypto industry and AI firms entered the race. "Elect Chicago Women," "Chicago Progressive Partnership," "Fairshake," and the OpenAI-linked "Think Big" super PAC poured millions into this race to take out progressive fighter Junaid Ahmed. A fearless young leader who spent years organizing in his community, refused corporate PAC money, and ran on universal health care, a ceasefire in Gaza, and economic justice for the working class immigrant communities that make up IL-08.
Here's the part that should really make your blood boil. These super PACs didn't even put their real names on the ads — they hid behind grassroots, progressive sounding names like "Chicago Progressive Partnership" specifically designed to trick Democratic voters into thinking they were supporting candidates who would fight for their constituents.
They lied. Because that's what cowards with unlimited money do.
We didn't leave empty handed — progressive Democrats took home some great wins. Daniel Biss won IL-09 despite AIPAC going all in for Laura Fine. La Shawn Ford held on in IL-07 in the face of $2.5 million from a crypto super PAC. And Leaders We Deserve endorsed candidate Demi Palecek won in a five-way primary against hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate money being spent against her.
Those wins matter. They prove that when we invest in progressive candidates early and stay organized, people power can beat dark money.
We have what it takes to challenge power and take back our elections, but only if we fight like hell for it.
Illinois was the warning shot. We can't afford to let them gain any more ground, Jason. Not from AIPAC, the crypto industry, or any other special interest group that thinks they can buy our democracy.
Let's get to work.
Thank you,
David Hogg
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