Democratic group faces backlash after intervening in crowded House primaries

PowerPost

By David Weigel March 2 Email the author

A black Democratic candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania is accusing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee of undermining his campaign and trying to nudge him out of the race in favor of white candidates.

A Republican super PAC’s poll in Texas has found a Democrat surging after the DCCC published opposition research about her campaign.

Across the country, tensions are boiling over between party activists and the Washington-based committees that usually shape midterm campaigns — with insurgent candidates seeing advantages in attacking the so-called “establishment,” and anticipating little harm when the party comes after them.

In Texas, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC associated with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), found Houston-area congressional candidate Laura Moser moving up after the DCCC published a short, sharp opposition research document on her last week. According to the poll, conducted with 726 “likely Democratic primary voters,” Moser has moved from sixth to second place since January, which would secure her a place in the May runoff — exactly what the DCCC had tried to prevent. Lizzie Fletcher, an attorney endorsed by EMILY’s List, led the field by a wide margin.

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