Democratic incumbents won eight House races, where the conservative political action committee, backed mainly by billionaire Jeff Yass, spent nearly $4.4 million to support Republican challengers, campaign finance records show.
These victories totaled almost $8 million in spending by Democratic candidates and Democratic organizations, according to data provided to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
But they managed to maintain a narrow Democratic majority in the House despite a wave of Republican victories elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
The Commonwealth Leadership Fund, which receives most of its money from Yass through two other committees, targeted House races in rural and suburban areas where incumbent Democrats were potentially vulnerable.
The PAC has spent nearly $19 million on Pennsylvania races this cycle, including $10 million in in-kind spending to support Republican Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday. Campaign finance data shows House candidates backed by the Commonwealth Leaders Fund spent just $2,670 raised directly by the candidates’ committee, but none spent more than about $140,000.
On Sunday, AG candidate, GOP candidates in Pa. races. House are supported by a fund supported by Yass
The House races included State Rep. Frank Burns’ district in Cambria County, where a prolonged vote counting following a failure of the voting system, it intensified the tragedy of his victory. He was declared the winner by about 2.5 points three days after the election.
Campaign finance records show the House Democratic Campaign Committee gave Burns more than $3.2 million in the final weeks of the campaign for his re-election bid. The Commonwealth Leaders Fund spent about $742,000 to support her opponent Amy Bradley.
Yassa’s PAC spent $791,000 to support Republican McKayla Kathio, who was running against Democratic state Rep. Jim Haddock in his district, which includes Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Haddock met that challenge, spending just $355,000, according to his campaign finance reports.
The Commonwealth Leaders Fund also spent $638,000 to support Republican Dan McPhillips, who is challenging 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 Leadership Fund include:
- $572,000 for Dino Disler v. Rep. Eddie Pashinski (D-Luzerne);
- $592,000 for Michale Perich against Republican Robert Matzi (D-Beaver);
- $225,000 for Micah Goring against Republican Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie);
- $378,000 for Gary Lotz against Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny); AND
- $436,000 for Nathan Wolfe against Republican Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny).
