Can The Koch Brothers Buy Democratic Primaries Too? Rhode Island

Yesterday, we looked at a few Democrats with their greasy palms out for cash from the Koch brothers, like Ben Ray Luján (NM), Raul Ruiz (CA) and Pete Aguilar (CA). And it isn't just corrupt conservative Democrats in Congress who have been compromised by the Koch brothers and their network. A Koch aligned organization is sending out attack mailers against progressive Rhode Island Lt. Governor candidate Aaron Regunberg. And here’s the thing-- they're attacking him in the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

We're starting to see this more and more frequently around the country-- right-wing groups backing New Dems, Blue Dogs and other faux-Dems from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party in Democratic primaries. It's revolting... especially whenBen Ray Luján, chair of the DCCC is very much a part of it. almost every candidate endorsed by the DCCC this cycle is from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party. It was horrifying yesterday when the bodies of the dead students in Texas weren't even counted yet and Democrats had two contend with the DCCC's recruitment of NRA allies-- like Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ), Anthony Brindisi (NY), Paul Davis (KS) and Elaine Luria (VA). Establishment Democrats have been accusing progressives of not being "real Democrats."

And in Rhode Island, a blue blue state, state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, who's running for Lieutenant Governor against a corporate DINO extraordinaire, incumbent Dan McKee, is watching his own progressive record being savaged by people who have nothing to do with Democratic values and principles. McKee-- while technically a “Democrat”-- looks a lot like a Republican on every important issue. He fought against increasing the minimum wage and job protections like paid sick days for workers (both legislative wins that Regunberg successfully led the charge for in the state legislature). He opposes single payer (Regunberg has introduced single payer legislation each year since he’s been elected).

Furthermore, McKee was singled out for praise by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos for being one of the leading proponents of school privatization in the country (Regunberg is a champion for public education). And McKee has dismissed efforts to protect abortion rights at the state level (Regunberg is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, RI-NOW, and other reproductive justice groups for his leadership on choice).

The media routinely labels McKee a "moderate," but is an anti-Choice, anti-worker, anti-public education conservaDem a "moderate?" Give me a break!

Luckily, in Rhode Island, there actually is a chance to pass bold progressive policy, from universal healthcare to the Fight for $15 to 100% clean energy transition and more, and those successes can ripple out to the rest of the nation. And for that to happen we need to elect a bold progressive like Aaron Regunberg, the first Lt. Governor candidate ever endorsed by Blue America. We thought this race was too important to pass by-- Aaron is too good a candidate and McKee is absolutely too horrible. The Blue America thermometer on the right includes the state executive branch candidates we've endorsed so far this cycle. There aren't many. In Rhode Island, the Koch brothers are trying to decide the Democratic primaries. Let's not let them. Click on that thermometer and help Aaron win. Or go right to his campaign's own ActBlue page. Let's not let them turn the phrase "progressive" into something reactionaries can use against champions of working families.