A new political action committee has spent $2.3 million against Oregon congressional candidate Susheela Jayapal, the sister of Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), in the days leading up to Tuesday’s primary.
The Los Angeles-based group, Voters for Responsive Government, has not disclosed its donors and registered with the Federal Election Commission on April 1. Filing a day earlier would have required them to disclose their donors, but they managed to avoid this by filing when they did, allowing them to spend millions without revealing their agenda.
According to the filing, the PAC’s treasurer is Cary Davidson.
Voters for Responsive Government launched negative ads against Jayapal, falsely accusing her of starving cats and dogs and distributing “crack pipes, straws, and tin foil to drug addicts” in response to Oregon’s drug crisis.
While these ads do not mention Gaza or Israel, speculation suggests Jayapal may be targeted due to her and her sister’s stance on Israel.
Jayapal is among seven Democrats and three Republicans on Tuesday’s ballot. However, only Democratic state Rep. Maxine Dexter, Democratic Gresham City Councilor Eddie Morales, and Jayapal have raised significant funds and are considered key contenders.
Jayapal was a frontrunner until a sudden influx of out-of-state money altered the dynamics of the race.
The Intercept claimed Jayapal is being targeted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, which has been funneling money into the race through 314 Action. Concerns that her views align with her sister’s, who was one of the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, may have prompted the pro-Israel political community’s initiative against her.
According to a December Jewish Insider story titled “Jayapal sister’s congressional candidacy alarming Portland Jewish leaders,” there are concerns that the sisters’ views on Israel may be too closely aligned.
“While the elder Jayapal, 61, had no history of public engagement on Middle East policy until recently, her views on the war between Israel and Hamas suggest a little distance between the siblings on such matters, triggering concerns among local pro-Israel advocates who have yet to support a viable candidate,” the article noted.
The article also mentioned that “local pro-Israel advocates have yet to coalesce behind a viable candidate,” naming Dexter as a potential contender. Dexter launched her campaign the same day.
Jayapal and Morales criticized the lack of transparency and called on Dexter and 314 Action to disclose their donors.
“Maxine Dexter claims to support transparency in politics, yet she and 314 Action are engaged in a misleading ploy to hide the donors propping up her campaign until just one day before the primary,” they stated jointly. “At a time when MAGA Republican mega-donors interfere in Democratic primaries nationwide, voters deserve to know who is funding this race for a centrist candidate not living in the district.”
Outside money has also flooded into Oregon’s 5th Congressional District race, leading to allegations from Democrats that Republicans are trying to push through a weaker candidate to help GOP incumbent Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer win in November.
Most of the funds, $475,000, spent on ads and mail have come from 314 Action.
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Like Voters for Responsive Government, 314 Action Fund must disclose its donors on Monday.
Calls to Jayapal were not returned.
