Rep. Adam Kinzinger this week warned Democrats to not back “crazy” election deniers in GOP primaries, because they might actually win and pose a “real threat” to democracy. Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty ImagesRep.
Adam Kinzinger warned Democrats this week against backing MAGA-linked election deniers. He said it was “disgusting” to do so, citing the danger of these candidates actually winning. He said those who back such candidates fail to understand the “threat to democracy” that they pose.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger this week warned Democrats against backing “crazy” candidates to win Republican primaries. Speaking to CNN, Kinzinger cautioned the Democratic party of the risks of funneling support into fringe GOP candidates, simply because they might appear to some as being easier to beat.
Kinzinger, who sits on the House panel investigating the Capitol riot, also warned Democrats against promoting “the crazy” in favor of a more straightforward win, calling fringe Republican candidates a “real threat” to democracy. “I think it is disgusting,” Kinzinger told CNN. “You think you may have an easier time of winning.
“”While I think a certain number of Democrats truly understand that democracy is threatened, don’t come to me after having spent money supporting an election denier in a primary,” Kinzinger said. “And then come to me and say, ‘where are all the good Republicans?'”Kinzinger was referring to the reports of some Democrats funneling resources into GOP opponents they perceive as being easier to beat. According to the nonpartisan campaign spending tracker Open Secrets, organizations linked to the Democratic Party have spent around $44 million boosting far-right GOP candidates.
This money has gone to specific, high-profile races, Open Secrets reported. For instance, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro spent around $800,000 on a spot that boosted his opponent, the Trump-endorsed Doug Mastriano. According to The New York Times, Mastriano was the Trump team’s point person in Pennsylvania for rallying fake electors.
Now, Shapiro has ended up in a tight race with Mastriano for the governor’s seat. Democratic strategist David Axelrod this month also slammed the House Democrats’ campaign arm for supporting the right-wing primary challenger to Rep. Peter Meijer, a Republican House member who voted to impeach Trump.
Meanwhile, in Illinois, Democratic Gov. J. B.
Pritzker also spent over $35 million trying to influence the Illinois gubernatorial primary, according to Open Secrets. His opponent in the fall is now the Trump-endorsed state Sen. Bailey, who beat a more moderate candidate, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.
Kinzinger lamented to CNN about Pritzker’s decision to spend “tens of millions of dollars” backing Bailey. “Yeah, Pritzker has a little bit of an advantage right now. Good Republican year, Bailey may win,” he told the outlet.
Sen. Mitt Romney last week also cautioned against Democratic moves to support GOP candidates who openly questioned the integrity of the vote. “It’s not illegal, but it sure is stupid,” he told The Huffington Post.
“Be careful what you wish for. You may select somebody who actually wins and then you hurt the country as well as your own party. “Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/kinzinger-disgusting-for-democrats-to-back-election-deniers-2022-7
