The Patriots Run Project has been recruiting far-right candidates in key races, an AP review found.
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 a Republican until only a few months ago, he arrived last month at the Iowa Capitol with well over the 1,726 petition signatures needed to qualify for the ballot as a conservative and independent alternative to first-term Republican Representative Zach Nunn.
According to the AP, when it was time to submit his petitions, Wiederien said an operative he knew only as « Johnny » agreed to drive him the 75 miles to Des Moines.
Later, after filing the necessary paperwork at the Iowa State Capitol, Wiederien said he flashed a thumbs-up across the room at « Johnny. »
Wiederien, 54, who had previously suffered a debilitating stroke that had left him unable to drive, said he had never run for office and for a time was unable to vote because of a felony conviction.
