Progressives riled by secret tape of Steny Hoyer asking candidate to drop out of race

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer is in hot water with progressives after he was secretly recorded asking one of their preferred candidates to drop out of Colorado’s 6th congressional district primary.

The candidate, Levi Tillemann, taped the Maryland Democrat saying that he’s supporting the other candidate in the race, Jason Crow, “because a judgement was made very early on.”

Crow, a corporate lawyer and Army veteran, is on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” list, a program that gives “top-tier” candidates organizational and fundraising support. Tillemann is an author, inventor and formerly an appointed adviser to the Energy Department during the Obama administration.

“So your position is, a decision was made very early on before voters had a say," Tillemann said. "That’s fine, because the DCCC knows better than the voters of the 6th Congressional District and we should line up that candidate.”

Hoyer said, “That’s certainly a consequence of our decision.”

Tillemann then released the tape to The Intercept, which published it Thursday.

Progressive groups that support Tillemann are going ballistic over what they say is yet another example of establishment Democrats meddling in primary elections.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee says it’s raising money for three candidates, including Tillemann, that the DCCC has pressured to drop out.

“There is a battle for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, and Steny Hoyer and his corporate cronies already lost,” said Stephanie Taylor, PCCC’s co-founder.

Democracy for America Executive Director Charles Chamberlain called for Hoyer to resign or “be removed” from House leadership.

"We saw what happens when Democratic Party leaders put their fingers on the scale in primaries in 2006 through 2016, when we lost nearly 1,000 elected offices up and down the ballot,” he said.

This isn’t the first time establishment Democrats have weighed in on a race. In February, the DCCC drew the ire of progressives after releasing opposition research against Texas Democrat Laura Moser, who will compete in the May runoff primary for Texas's 7th congressional district.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Hoyer did nothing inappropriate, and said she’s more concerned about someone being taped without permission.

“I don't see anything inappropriate in what Mr. Hoyer was engaged in a conversation about, the realities of life in a race, as to who can win in the general election,” the California Democrat said.

Hoyer communications director Katie Grant said Hoyer was "committed to taking back the House."

"That involves working with local leaders to identify and support the strongest candidate for that district," she said.

Hoyer donated early to Crow’s campaign through his campaign account and leadership PAC, starting in June 2017, before Tilleman filed to run in July.

During his conversation with Tilleman, Hoyer said he should consider not tearing down Crow, calling Crow “the favorite.”

Tilleman said, “It’s undemocratic to have a small elite select someone and then try to rig the primary against the other people running.”

But Hoyer disagreed, saying he’s been “at this for a long time” and leaders will continue to direct funding towards Crow.

“It was clear that was our policy and our hope that we could early on try to come to an agreement on a candidate that we thought could win the general, and to give that candidate all the help we could them so that we would have a unified effort going into the general election,” Hoyer said.

When Tilleman said he’s essentially running against Crow, Hoyer and the DCCC, Hoyer responded, “Frankly, that happens in life all the time.”

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