Follow the Money

Co-founded by AOC's former chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti. Raised and deployed $11.2 million in the 2022 cycle for DSA-endorsed and DSA-aligned federal candidates. In 2026: $1.5 million to Avila Chevalier (NY-13) and $370,000 to Valdez (NY-7). Combined with American Priorities PAC, this made Avila Chevalier one of the best-funded congressional challengers in the country.

Anti-AIPAC super PAC funded primarily by Muslim businesspeople supporting anti-Israel candidates. Donated $1.3 million to Avila Chevalier and $455,000 to Valdez in the 2026 NYC primaries — making it the single largest outside spender in both races. The PAC's stated mission is electing candidates who will block all U.S. military aid to Israel.

CAIR Action Network PAC — the political arm of CAIR, named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation Hamas financing trial — bundled $140,000+ for Rashida Tlaib and $180,000+ for Ilhan Omar across multiple cycles. Both have headlined CAIR fundraisers and co-sponsored CAIR-organized events.

Major dark money conduit that routes donations to progressive and DSA-adjacent candidates without public donor disclosure. Operates through multiple layers of 501(c)4 nonprofits to avoid Federal Election Commission disclosure requirements. Documented connections to Justice Democrats and Working Families Party infrastructure.

George Soros-founded network. Major funder of DSA-adjacent organizations including the Working Families Party and CAIR-affiliated legal organizations. Has donated hundreds of millions to progressive ballot initiatives aligned with DSA platform positions including criminal justice reform, immigration policy, and housing.

DSA-aligned electoral vehicle operating as a minor party in New York and other states, allowing cross-endorsement of DSA candidates on a separate ballot line. Cross-endorsed Brad Lander in the 2026 NY-10 primary. Connected to Open Society Foundations, SEIU, and Justice Democrats. Provides ballot infrastructure that amplifies DSA electoral efforts.

DMFI PAC deployed millions in negative advertising against Mamdani's endorsed candidates in the 2026 NYC primaries. All three races lost despite heavy spending. DMFI focused primarily on the candidates' statements on Israel and Hamas.

AIPAC's super PAC spent heavily against Avila Chevalier and Valdez in 2026. Both candidates lost despite the spending. The failure marked a significant setback for the pro-Israel donor network in New York Democratic primaries.

Analysts cite three factors: Mamdani's organizational infrastructure, the concentration of progressive voters in NYC districts, and the anti-Israel spending itself — which may have activated DSA's base rather than suppressing it. DSA's ground game overwhelmed outside spending.