Yass-backed fund spent $4.4 million to flip vulnerable Dem districts in Pa. but came up empty

The Pennsylvania Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Capital-Star file photo)

Democratic incumbents prevailed in eight state House races where the conservative political action committee backed largely by billionaire Jeff Yass spent nearly $4.4 million to support Republican challengers, campaign finance records show.

The wins came at a cost of nearly $8 million in combined spending by the Democratic candidates and Democratic organizations, according to the records submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of State. 

But they preserved the narrow Democratic majority in the House amid a wave of Republican victories elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth Leaders Fund, which receives most of its money from Yass by way of two other committees, targeted state House races in rural and suburban areas where the Democratic incumbents were potentially vulnerable. 

The PAC spent nearly $19 million in Pennsylvania races this cycle, including $10 million in in-kind spending to support Republican Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday. Campaign finance records show the House candidates Commonwealth Leaders Fund backed spent as little as $2,670 that was raised directly by the candidates’ committee, but none spent more than about $140,000.

https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/ag-candidate-sunday-gop-contenders-in-pa-house-races-get-financial-backing-from-yass-backed-fund/

The House races included state Rep. Frank Burns’ district in Cambria County, where a protracted ballot count in the wake of a voting system malfunction compounded the drama of his victory. He was declared the winner by a margin of about 2.5 points three days after the election.

Campaign finance records show the House Democratic Campaign Committee poured more than $3.2 million into Burns’ reelection bid in the final weeks of the campaign. Commonwealth Leaders Fund spent about $742,000 in support of his opponent Amy Bradley. 

Yass’ PAC spent $791,000 in support of Republican McKayla Kathio, who ran against Democratic state Rep. Jim Haddock in his district spanning Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Haddock fended off the challenge spending only $355,000, according to his campaign finance reports.

Commonwealth Leaders Fund also spent $638,000 in support of Republican Dan McPhillips, who challenged Bucks County Democratic state Rep. Brian Munroe. Munroe spent $567,000 and received about $444,000 in in-kind support from the House Democratic Campaign Committee and the state Democratic Party.

Other unsuccessful Republican House candidates who received support from the Commonwealth Leaders Fund include: 

• $572,000 for Dino Disler against Rep. Eddie Pashinski (D-Luzerne);
• $592,000 for Michale Perich against Rep. Robert Matzie (D-Beaver);
• $225,000 for Micah Goring against Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie);
• $378,000 for Gary Lotz against Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny); and
• $436,000 for Nathan Wolfe against Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny).