(C) Common Dreams This story was originally published by Common Dreams and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Open Letter to Bhavini Patel: Keep MAGA Republicans out of our Democratic Primary [1] [] Date: 2024-03-24 13:26:02.197000+00:00 Open Letter to Bhavini Patel: Keep MAGA Republicans out of our Democratic Primary PA12 Dems · Follow 4 min read · Mar 24, 2024 -- Listen Share We, the undersigned constituents of PA-12, are writing to express our grave concern about your campaign soliciting support from Republican donors and registering Republicans to vote in our Democratic primary. This is a craven and undemocratic ploy to unseat Congresswoman Summer Lee. The involvement of Republican donors in your campaign is deceitful and deeply hypocritical. It undermines any hope of earning the trust of Democratic voters and the communities you claim to be running to serve. Accepting financial support from those who actively work against our values is unacceptable and incompatible with the responsibilities of a Democratic representative. We deserve better. Your first and only FEC report showed that more than 60% of your top donors have given more than $100,000 to MAGA Republicans — from PA election deniers like Scott Perry and Mike Kelly to anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ extremists like Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz, and Kevin McCarthy, Nikki Haley, David McCormick, and many more. Now, the first outside spending in our primary has come from a Super PAC entirely funded by Jeffrey Yass, the richest man in Pennsylvania and the largest Republican donor in the country. Yass has spent over $46 million already this cycle on Republican candidates and causes and spent $47 million last cycle trying to defund our public education, prop up anti-abortion Republicans, and cut taxes for billionaires like himself. Our Commonwealth has no greater enemy than its richest Republican, Jeffrey Yass, and now you have aligned yourself with him too. You have also made clear that you are seeking endorsement from and support of AIPAC’s Super PAC, the United Democracy Project, despite their funding coming mainly from Trump megadonors and Republican billionaires. This is the same Super PAC that in 2022 endorsed over 100 election-denying insurrectionist Republicans, currently endorses 200+ anti-abortion Republican extremists, and spent $5 million on attack ads filled with lies about Summer in the primary and also the general election in an attempt to elect an anti-choice Republican extremist to represent Pittsburgh. On top of that, you stated on a fundraising call with these Republican donors that encouraging Republicans to re-register to vote as Democrats would be part of your strategy. You appear to have teamed up with Republican David McCormick in an embarrassing attempt to slander Senator Casey and Congresswoman Lee — exploiting the trauma of antisemitism and Islamophobia to peddle disinformation and score cheap political points. With Trump and MAGA Republicans on the ballot, your strategy of sewing division between vulnerable communities while partnering with Republican voters and donors puts our freedom and our futures at risk. The Democratic Party has long stood for progress, advocating for the rights and well-being of all people, no matter where they come from, how much money they have, how they pray, or what they look like. We fight tirelessly for reproductive freedom, safety from gun violence, clean air and water, civil rights, and democracy. No candidate running in the Democratic primary should be primarily funded by Republican donors working to elect Trump. Your Republican donors are part of the plan to pass a national abortion ban, attack our LGBTQ+ siblings, bankroll Big Pharma and the NRA, tear away our access to health care, workers’ rights, voting rights, and ultimately end democracy in America. They are actively undermining our democracy, promoting discrimination and hate, and endangering the lives and well-being of our communities. Therefore, we ask you to take immediate and transparent action, pledging not to encourage Republicans and Independents to re-register in our primaries and publicly demand that a Republican-funded Super PAC like AIPAC not spend money in our Democratic primary. The integrity of our democratic process and the voters' trust in PA-12 are at stake. Sincerely, Elise Lavallee Kenneth Mostern Satvika Neti Marijke Hecht Erin Breault Allie Levin Matt Richards Henry Cohen Amber, Chaudhry Eva Resnick -Day Myra Tahirkheli Rachel Webber Emilie Anita Kayla Megan Brian Doyle Tyrell Best-Savage Antony Gnalian Ghadah Makoshi Daniel, Stock Larry Rippel David Greve Tanisha Long Patricia Oliver Pam Thompson Mary Hofford Dolores, Parker Ella Thompson Erik Oas Cassia Olivia Jodi Hirsh Gloria Gralewski Stephanie Gagne Ryan Morden Dan Maureen Trent Namita Cee Cee McNulty Brendan McCarthy Mary McGarity Katie Forsythe Stacey Edick Marianne Weaver Jennie Sweet-Cushman Diana Tonja Leykn Schmatz Treasure Corey Johns Lisa Messineo Andrea G Naomi, Greenberg Sabrina Maines Tom Hoffman shannon mahoney Chad, Collins Linfa Little Elyanna Sharbaji Erin Marie Hatala Harry Cassandra Masters Ariana Sara, Myers-Maloney Carlin Christy Emalie Martzall Julia Bojalad Emma Jasmine, Kaur Kipp Dawson Walid, Khoury Jessica O’Keefe Terri Minor Spencer Marilyn Miriam Pérez-Putnam Aly Shaw Sarah A. Zachary Grewe Jessica Jones Martine Saul Tim Jones Jack Alto Morgan Faeder Judith Yanowitz Alexandra, Weiner Marie Norman Nathaniel Yap Jeremiah Tyler, Wilson Eileen Cortney Bouse Moshe Sherman Sami Nicholas Williams TARNJIT Cassie, Grzybek Mohinder kaur Mandeep Joanne Laura Horowitz Susan Andrea Boykowycz Hannah Akerberg Mary Tremonte Sarah Mahogany Thaxton Cora Elijah, Horowitz Symone Saul Shawn Waggoner Megan Jillian Harriet Nikki Astrid Leora, Rosner Nadav Furgang Patricia Blaney Theresa Chalich Obadah Alfaham Bill Wekselman Jennifer, Walkup Jayes Ari Barney, Oursler Zachary, Carlson Mia G. Phillips Jeremy Marshall Phoebe Degroot Maya, Haber Azadeh, Block Laura Kessler Michelena Wolf Jack Mary Dias Julianne Saffron Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy Sara Haj-Hassan Jill Erin Breault Aimee Kasey Christy Owens Sarah Tim Bushra Erin McCrosky Emily Sean Jonathan Mayo Kate Joranson Amy Khadija Juhi Megan Rodriguez John Rodriguez James, Faeder Katharyn, Gaslowitz Danielle Graham Robinson Andi Janet Seltman Ramey Rachel Clove Darr Lauren Stuparitz Christina Graves Julia Rippel Keshira haLev Fife Laura Tompkins Bennett Louise Mayo Seth ang zarrilli Laura Nelson Pam Harbin Cole, Fischer Jane Dan Yablonsky Derek H Monica, Samara Rosenberg William Cohen Kimberly Susan Hoppe Rayden Michael Goodhart Michael Healey Rachel James Avigail Oren Heather Mull Kayleigh Marcus Daniel Heifetz Berenson, Tommy Patrick Francis Lutie Rodriguez Nicholas Petrillo Lynn Marley Pinsky Max Applbaum L. Ray Roberts Osman Jouejati Omar Mussa Jules Mallis Moira Kaleida Ernest Rajakone Bonnie Weibel Laurel Ford Timothy Randall Jacob Elaine Beck Andrew Hayhurst Sophie Mackey Daniel Jessica JP Leskovich Alex Nunley Robert Sabanas Stephen O’Brion Chris Rebecca Adrie Rose Ary Anthony Olshanski Alexander Robert Ron [END] --- [1] Url: https://medium.com/@jodi_43426/open-letter-to-bhavini-patel-keep-maga-republicans-out-of-our-democratic-primary-b77124516054 Published and (C) by Common Dreams Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0.. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/commondreams/