While Pennsylvania could be the state that picks the next president, many campaign professionals believe it could also determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
On Monday, Axios reported the National Republican Congressional Committee “sees a window in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to keep control or grow their numbers.” It’s targeting U.S. Reps. Susan Wild, Matt Cartwright and Chris Deluzio.
Democrats see opportunity, too, focusing their fire on Rep. Scott Perry. As chair of the House Freedom Caucus, he is a high-value target for the Democratic Party nationally. Flipping his seat would also get it one step closer to a majority.
So, it’s no surprise one of the biggest names in progressive political fundraising is backing Perry’s opponent. Democrat Janelle Stelson is receiving funds from the family of billionaire George Soros in her bid against Perry
Federal Election Commission records show Stelson received matching $3,300 donations from Jonathan Soros and wife, Jennifer Allan Soros, both residents of New York City.
Jonathan Soros is the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros and has significantly contributed to left-leaning causes, including Planned Parenthood.
He met wife Jennifer Ann Allan Soros when the two were volunteering on Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign.
Over the years, Jennifer Ann Allan Soros has donated more than $1.4 million to Planned Parenthood and served on its board.
Together, the couple run the the Jennifer and Jonathan Allan Soros Foundation (JJASF), a grantmaking organization established in 2009,
From 2010 to 2015, the foundation distributed more than $22 million to 40 progressive groups, including significant contributions to the Open Society Institute and various liberal advocacy organizations.
Funded initially by the Allasor Holdings Corporation and other private investments, the JJASF aims to promote leftist policies across various sectors, including social justice, election integrity, and reproductive rights.
As of 2015, the foundation’s total assets were valued at approximately $163.9 million.
George Soros has used similar non-profit structures to funnel money to preferred candidates.
According to CNBC, in 2021, the Open Society Policy Center, a nonprofit affiliated with billionaire George Soros, contributed $140 million to advocacy organizations and ballot initiatives, alongside an additional $60 million to similar charities.
That funding was part of a broader pattern, as Soros has donated roughly half a billion dollars to political causes since January 2020, primarily directed toward initiatives aligned with the Democratic Party.
The Open Society Policy Center operates within a complex network of nonprofits, which allows funds to flow indirectly to political causes while maintaining a degree of anonymity regarding their origins.
Key donations in 2021 included substantial support for voter engagement and voter rights groups.
George Soros’ funding has played a pivotal role in the election of progressive district attorneys like Philadelphia’s Larry Krasner who, critics say, have turned a blind eye to criminal behavior and have been reluctant to charge those accused of serious crimes.
George Soros has invested more than $40 million into funding 75 allegedly “soft on crime” prosecutors across the United States, significantly influencing local elections.
Stelson got her start in Washington, D.C. as a speechwriter for the Egyptian embassy before she began a long career as a TV weather personality and reporter.
Stelson remains registered to vote in Lancaster County’s 11th Congressional District, even as she campaigns for a seat in the 10th District to the southeast.
During a debate with Perry, Stelson acknowledged her residence in Manheim Township, just outside the district boundaries.
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