A secretive organization called the Patriots Run Project has been quietly recruiting far-right candidates in key U.S. House races, potentially giving Democrats an unexpected advantage in the upcoming election cycle, the Associated Press reported.
According to the AP’s review, the group has been recruiting supporters of former President Donald Trump in the past year to run as independent candidates in swing districts, where they could siphon votes from Republicans in races that will help determine which party controls the House next year.
However, the review found that some of the group’s efforts traced back to Democratic consulting firms.
In addition to two races in Iowa, the group recruited candidates from Nebraska, Montana, Virginia and Minnesota. The review also found that all six recruits described themselves as retired, disabled, or both.
Among those recruits is Joseph Wiederien, a Trump supporter from Iowa who spoke to the AP and revealed that while he was registered as …