A group of Democrat-aligned consulting firms is allegedly behind a shadowy political operation that has deceived numerous pro-Trump senior citizens and disabled individuals into running as third-party candidates in key Congressional swing districts in the hopes of splitting Republican support. Operating under the name Patriots Run Project, the group has ties to firms like the Nevada-based Sole Strategies, Common Sense America, and Patinkin Research—all associated with Democratic Party campaigns and candidates.
The Patriots Run Project has successfully recruited elderly and disabled supporters of former President Donald J. Trump to run in Congressional races in several states, including Iowa and Virginia. In other instances, the group failed to get their candidates on the ballot. Concerningly, the individuals recruited by the Patriots Run Project appear to be targeted mainly through social media and are almost entirely senior citizens, those suffering from long-term disabilities, or both. This suggests that the Democrat-run operation purposefully targets people they believe they can defraud and manipulate.
POSSIBLE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
While recruiting third-party candidates is not illegal if done in accordance with state and federal elections laws, the Patriots Run Project does not appear to be a registered business entity. Nor does the group have a nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Additionally, it is not a registered Political Action Committee (PAC) with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The Democrat-backed organization provided paid signature gatherers for those they recruited to run for Congress. Additionally, operatives who appear to have used false names would pick up the candidates and drive them to local election offices to file their candidacy paperwork. In one instance, a candidate recruit noted that the operative attempted to dodge appearing on government security cameras and refused to have their picture taken.
It is unclear if the Patriots Run Project’s actions violate state and federal election laws, though the lack of business, nonprofit, or PAC registrations suggests this may be the case. An Associated Press (AP) investigation tied the group to several Democrat-aligned consulting firms based in Nevada and Washington State. However, national Democratic campaign committees deny any connection with the effort.
Sole Strategie’s clients include the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY), and the Democratic-aligned Latino group Mi Familia Vota.
