Texas Democrats plan winner-take-all Dallas fundraiser for primary opponents

WASHINGTON — Seven Democrats facing off in a single Texas congressional primary have an odd way of fighting it out.

On Tuesday, they plan to put aside their differences and fundraise, together. That’s because the money they raise will go to the primary winner – no matter who it is.

This “unity fundraiser” in Dallas is sponsored by a Texas chapter of the group “Swing Left,” an organization that raises money for swing district Democrats and promises to cut a check for the eventual primary winner.

“Everyone has committed to supporting the eventual nominee,” said former Obama administration official Ed Meier, one of seven Democratic primary opponents hoping to challenge Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, in the general election. “It’s in that spirit that the Swing Left fundraiser makes a ton of sense. We want to capitalize on that positive energy and spirit right now.”

The “kumbaya” approach to fundraising is noteworthy as Democrats continue to struggle with internal divisions between progressives and the so-called “establishment” that Republicans love to highlight.

“’Democrats’ and ‘unity’ are two words rarely used in the same sentence in this era of politics,” said Jesse Hunt, a spokesman for the House Republican campaign committee. “I imagine this effort will be as successful as last year’s DNC unity tour that everyone forgot about after two weeks.”

Swing Left insists it isn’t taking sides in primaries. So far, the organization and allied groups have raised nearly $4 million to be distributed among eventual Democratic nominees in swing districts throughout the country. The only condition to receive the funds is simply being the Democratic primary winner.

“When we launched, a lot of folks were skeptical,” Ethan Todras-Whitehill, the group’s executive director and co-founder, wrote in an email. “Would we really be able to raise money for candidates that nobody knew? And the answer, as the results show, is yes. Because what these funds allow us to do, really, is to raise money AGAINST someone in the most efficient way possible.”

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Swing Left formed after the last presidential election with the goal of steering resources and volunteers toward their closest swing district. They aim to help Democrats take back the House majority by registering voters, collecting vote pledges and raising "district funds" that go to the winning candidate.

The organization hopes to help candidates who emerge cash-poor from primaries with an early infusion to help them hire staff or buy ads. Local groups have raised money with everything from wine and cheese parties to one 10-hour “fund-rager” at a bar.

The "unity fundraiser" at a Dallas banquet room may be a new twist, and more than 80 people have registered to attend. Swing Left and allied groups have raised $135,821 to help the nominee in the general election.

A campaign spokeswoman for Sessions, who also has a primary opponent, declined to comment.

“Our position, as an organization, is that any Democrat would be better than our current representative,” said Chris Ferguson, an attorney and volunteer for the local Swing Left chapter in Texas. “The best way to win nationally and take control of the House is for all Democrats to be unified and all progressives to be unified.”