Bernie Sanders is escalating his fight against super PAC money, urging Democrats to ban super PACs from party primaries and arguing that outside spending has warped the nomination process. In a post on X on Sunday, the Vermont senator pointed to the influence of wealthy groups, naming the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, as a prime example in his push against what he called a corrupt system.
Sanders said it was unacceptable for groups such as AIPAC to pour millions into Democratic primaries and then back Republicans in the general election. In his words, Democratic leaders should move now to bar super PACs from primary contests. He also circulated an Aug. 8 letter to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, pressing them to act.
In that letter, Sanders said AIPAC and affiliated groups spent more than $30 million in Michigan’s Democratic primary while working to defeat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He said the same network plans to spend tens of millions more to help Republican Mike Rogers in the general election. Sanders also broadened his criticism beyond AIPAC, saying corporate super PACs tied to crypto, artificial intelligence and online betting interests have already spent a record $517 million this election cycle, topping the previous high set in 2024.
The senator argued that the problem is not only the size of the money but the role it plays in deciding who carries the Democratic banner. He said it is especially troubling when billionaire-backed groups spend heavily to shape Democratic primaries and then shift to helping Republican candidates if their preferred Democrat loses. Sanders called that dynamic outrageous and said these organizations have no real interest in seeing Democrats win.
