Introduction

U.S. Senate candidates, Republican Gabriel Gomez, left, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, right before a debate at the WGBH studios in Boston. (AP Photo/WGBH, Meredith Nierman)

A super PAC that attempted to boost the candidacy of Republican Gabriel Gomez during last year’s special U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts has been disbanded, according to paperwork recently filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Americans for Progressive Action, as the group was named despite its staunch support for the conservative Gomez in the race against Democratic Rep. Ed Markey, raised $1.7 million during its short existence — all from California vintner John Jordan.

Ahead of the June 2013 election, Jordan told the Wall Street Journal that he “just couldn’t sit by and watch and leave [Gomez] alone while the establishment Republican groups decided to sit on their hands and just leave him on the beach.”

Jordan did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Center for Public Integrity. Nor did Nancy Watkins, the super PAC’s treasurer.

Markey ultimately beat Gomez by about 10 percentage points, after out-raising his campaign and benefiting from millions of dollars in spending by Democratic super PACs and environmental groups.