Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, has contributed significantly to a political action committee that is about to start a primary campaign aimed at unseating Representatives. According to Dmitri Mehlhorn, the billionaire’s longtime political advisor, Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich, and Cori Bush, D-Mo.
Mehlhorn told CNBC that he had discussed supporting a primary challenge against the two progressive House legislators with the leaders of the Mainstream Democrats PAC. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, two leftist New York Democratic representatives, are also members of the so-called “Squad” that also includes Tlaib and Bush.
“I have been inquiring with [Mainstream Democrats PAC] about Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib, as well as whether there is a chance to remove the most radical members of Congress,” Mehlhorn stated on Wednesday. Mehlhorn explained that the two House members could see a major push from the PAC because of their negative attitude on Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ strike on October 7.
Mehlhorn stated that the talks have been going on for the past month, and he believes the PAC will take action against Tlaib and Bush as a result of those talks.
“I’m hoping they’ll call me back with some positive news. Mehlhorn clarified, “I would be happy to garner support for that endeavor. He wouldn’t elaborate further and wouldn’t say who from the PAC he met with.
Should the Mainstream Democrats PAC field primary candidates against Tlaib or Bush, it would signify a well-funded endeavor by some of the wealthiest Democratic Party supporters to perhaps unseat two progressive legislators.
While a campaign can only accept up to $3,300 from a single contribution during a primary or general election contest, Mainstream Democrats, as a super PAC, are legally allowed to raise an unlimited amount of money from individual donors.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Hoffman has contributed more than $1.5 million to the Mainstream Democrats PAC since the organization’s founding during the 2022 congressional midterm elections. According to FEC records, the group has raised just over $1.4 million since the beginning of the year, making his most recent $1 million payment the largest recorded donation to date this cycle.
Deborah Simon, the daughter of Mel Simon, the co-founder of Simon Property Group, is one of the PAC’s other major donors. Based on FEC filings, she gave the PAC $1 million last year. According to the campaign finance records, investors Daniel Benton & Paul Finnegan have each donated $100,000 so far this year.
Despite facing major obstacles in the 2022 election, Tlaib and Bush managed to win reelection. Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor who abandoned his campaign to oust Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., to challenge the progressive Democrat, is already Bush’s primary opponent. This cycle, Tlaib has not yet encountered a major obstacle.
Requests for comments from the PAC were not answered. Hoffman did not respond to a message seeking comment.
The potential primary contest represents the most recent election cycle in which the Mainstream Democrats PAC has targeted Democratic Party candidates.
Data from the neutral OpenSecrets website indicates that the Mainstream Democrats PAC assisted in the defeat of a few progressive Democrats in the 2022 congressional midterm elections.
A little over $150,000 was spent by the PAC on ads against progressive Nina Turner, who lost to Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown of Ohio in the primary. They contributed just under $750,000 to help Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, defeat progressive opponent Jessica Cisneros in the primary.
Additionally, they are personally connected to the Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel group that operates a 501(c)(4) and a PAC. During the last election cycle, the group extensively funded efforts opposing progressive Democratic candidates for Congress.
An FEC record shows that the nonprofit organization that supports Democratic Majority for Israel gave $500,000 to the Mainstream Democrats PAC in the previous year. At the time, The Intercept revealed that the Democratic Majority for Israel and mainstream Democrats occupy the same office space and pollster.