House Dems' pitch for dues: Help us take on MAGA Inc.
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President Trump steps off Marine One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Aug. 10. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
House Democratic leadership is pointing to the colossal spending by President Trump's super PACs in their behind-the-scenes efforts to get members to pay their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: DCCC dues have fueled heated infighting among House Democrats in recent months, with several proposals emerging to force members to cough up more money.
- Some House Democrats want to require colleagues to pay their dues before seeking committee leadership roles, as The Washington Sun first reported.
- But other lawmakers, particularly in the Progressive and Black Caucuses, are "furious" about these suggestions, said a senior House Democrat, who told Axios that "members ... don't like threats."
Driving the news: "While our case to the American people is strong, our Frontliners and candidates face ugly daily attacks from the right as MAGA Inc. unloads its coffers," DCCC chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) wrote in an email to House Democrats obtained by Axios.
- "We need the resources to fight back and support our battleground colleagues and candidates in these final weeks," she added.
- DelBene ended the email with a plea for dues payments: "I urge everyone to make a dues contribution today. Let's make sure we don't have any regrets on Election Day."
Between the lines: While several House Democrats noted to Axios that DelBene routinely urges members to pay their dues — in emails and at caucus meetings — some clocked a more urgent tone than usual.
- One lawmaker described the email, which was sent out on Wednesday, as "slightly more aggressive about shaming people" about not paying their dues than past entreaties.
By the numbers: A pair of super PACs linked to MAGA Inc. have emerged as two of the top spenders on congressional races nationwide despite launching in September.
- No Going Back PAC and Safety and Affordability PAC have respectively spent $50 million and $38 million on ads in House races, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact.
- That makes them the fourth and fifth largest outside ad spenders in the country, after Democrats' House Majority PAC and Republicans' Congressional Leadership Fund and American Action Network.
The intrigue: DelBene's email included the final version of House Democrats' August dues report, a draft copy of which was first reported by The Sun.
- The report shows significant progress from April, with leadership going from 28 members who have paid 100% or more of their dues to 66.
- Still, the August report lists 100 House Democrats as having paid 25% or less of their dues, including 38 who have paid none at all — though about half are swing-district members exempt from dues payments.
