Super PACs plop whopping $50M into NYC House races including one that could be most expensive in history
They PAC a punch!Partisan super PAC groups lavished more than $50 million into the four contested Big Apple congressional races that ended with a stunning far-left takeover during Tuesday’s Democratic primaries, records show.The crowded race to replace retiring Rep.Jerry Nadler in Manhattan’s 12th House District led the pack with a staggering $40.8 million in super PAC spending — making it one of the most expensive in House history, according to records.Roughly 102,000 Democrats cast ballots in that five-person race — meaning super PACs ultimately spent $398 per vote, records show.The campaigns for eventual winner state Assemblyman Micah Lasher and runner-up Alex Bores, who’s also in the Assembly, only spent a fraction of that outlay, preliminary campaign finance records show.Experts said the massive spending from political action committees — which can raise unlimited dough from individuals, corporations, unions and other groups — could spark questions about the independence of the candidates, though they are legally barred from coordinating with or receiving direct donations from the PACs.“When most of the total campaign spending in a race is done by super PACs, the public will presume candidates are beholden to those funding the super PAC,” said Alex Camarda, a senior policy adviser for the Reinvent Albany good government group.While the NY-12 primary — which also counted Kennedy family scion Jack Schlossberg among the candidates — drew the most super PAC dollars, it was a trio of other races that dominated attention due to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsements.The sweep by far-left contenders Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander and Claire Valdez against establishment Democrats drew roughly $12 million in super PAC money combined.The District 13 race won by Democratic Socialists of America acolyte Avila Chevalier over Rep.
Adriano Espaillat drummed up $9.35 million in super PAC cash, records show.Espaillat drew support from PACs traditi...