Democrat Candidates Panic Over Hot Potato Donations from AOC, Some May Return the Money

In an effort to keep the House majority Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s staff transferred $5,000 to many House Democrats. This was an unwelcome surprise to some who received the funds. So far three representatives have stated they will be returning the funds including Conor Lamb (D-PA), Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

This appears to be an error in part caused by Cortez’s effort not to appear that she is not working with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In January of 2020, she voiced that she would not be paying her ‘dues’ to the DCCC. The dues are redistributed to other Democrats’ campaigns that are deemed in need.

Marisa Schultz tweeted, “SCOOP: @AOC withholding $250,000 in “dues” from the Democratic party in protest and building her own grassroots fundraising for progressives instead AOC riles Dems by refusing to pay party dues, bankrolling colleagues”. AOC responded, “I give quite a bit to fellow Dems – we’ve fundraised over $300,000 for others (more than my “dues”), w/ over 50% going to swing seats. DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion. I’m also not the only one. Expanding a House majority is critical, which is why I regularly (and happily) fundraise sizeable amounts for fellow members. I also believe that a Dem majority should be transformative, which is why I give strategically. Seems fair, no?”

I’m also not the only one.

Expanding a House majority is critical, which is why I regularly (and happily) fundraise sizeable amounts for fellow members.

I also believe that a Dem majority should be transformative, which is why I give strategically. Seems fair, no?

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 10, 2020

Well, it seems that not paying her dues she is still working with the DCCC to keep the Democratic House majority. According to Politico, “DCCC aides gave lawmakers’ wire transfer information to Ocasio-Cortez’s aides without the approval of more senior officials, according to multiple people familiar with the contributions.” This causing those who want no association with AOC to have her name appear as a listed donor.

So it seems in her effort to keep her word and not donate to DCCC she is still working with them. Politico also reported this round of donations totals 160,000. Many Democrats probably welcome the extra funds, however, for those in moderate districts they want nothing to do with AOC’s progressive brand. These donations give more than just money they show that the representative is willing to accept money from a stalwart of progressive ideas that don’t hold so well in their districts.

While Democrats maintained control of the house in the 2020 election they had a net loss of 7 seats which slimmed down their majority. This put them in a more vulnerable position for the next election. As a Democratic consultant who works for swing-seat members put it to Politico, “The GOP has spent four years saying the frontliners are all socialists. Now they’ve got the receipts to prove it. Anyone telling themselves this won’t be in campaign ads is in denial.”

While it is entertaining to some to watch the Democrats play hot potato and scramble because of this ‘error’. It remains to be seen if this will stick to any of those Democrat Representatives who wish not to be associated with the radical side of their party.

Stay tuned to Media Right News.