‘Yes on Wes’ but no on Question 3 ads funded by national dark-money group

Ads urging Marylanders to vote for Gov. Wes Moore — but against the congressional redistricting ballot question he wants — are being funded by the Progressive Prosperity Caucus, a controversial nonprofit that Democrats in other states believe is a front for Republicans.

The Truth for Maryland Political Action Committee has been airing ads and mailing flyers opposing the redistricting measure, Question 3 on the Maryland ballot. Vote “yes for Wes” but also “against Question 3,” the ads say, borrowing Moore’s campaign colors and slogan.

Campaign finance reports filed Friday show that the PAC has one funder, the Progressive Prosperity Caucus, which donated $325,000.

Little is known about Progressive Prosperity Caucus, which appears to have formed this year and, as a nonprofit, is not required to disclose its donors.

Democratic officials in Wisconsin and Nebraska say they suspect that the Progressive Prosperity Caucus is funded by Republicans for the purpose of meddling in Democratic politics, according to news reports. Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, alleged that it was among “right-wing front groups” that got involved in races to “try and trick Dem voters.”

Moore strongly backs Question 3, which would change the state constitution’s rules for congressional redistricting, as a way to counter President Donald Trump’s push for redistricting to gain Republican seats. If voters approve Question 3, the Maryland General Assembly could rework the state’s eight congressional districts to make it harder for the lone Republican, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, to win in 2028.

Andrew Brightwell, a Republican strategist and chairperson of Truth for Maryland, acknowledged the source of the money but did not respond to other questions Friday.

Truth for Maryland is “proud of the progressive support we have received in this fight,” Brightwell said in a statement, reiterating the group’s support for Moore and calling gerrymandering a “cancer on our democracy.”

Truth for Maryland’s latest advertising expanded this week to include a mailer with pictures of top Democrats and wording saying that “Team Maryland is with Governor Moore” and “We are fighting against Gerrymandering.”

It’s not clear who funds and controls the Progressive Prosperity Caucus. Its bare-bones website says only: “The Progressive Prosperity Caucus is a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing forward-thinking policies, expanding opportunity, and building a more just and equitable society for every American.”

A message sent to the website’s administrative email went unanswered Friday.

“The same dark money group responsible for disinformation campaigns across the country is trying the same tactics here in Maryland,” Moore campaign spokesman Carter Elliott IV said in a statement after learning the funder’s identity. “Governor Moore has been steadfast in his support for Question 3 so Marylanders have a chance to fight back against Trump’s extreme power grab.”

The Moore campaign has cried foul over the Truth for Maryland ads, alleging that the group ripped off Moore’s campaign colors, branding and slogan to try to trick voters into believing he opposes Question 3.

Moore’s campaign lawyer sent Truth for Maryland a cease-and-desist letter asking for the ads to be taken down.

Two anonymous complaints about the ads have been filed with elections officials and the Office of the State Prosecutor, alleging that the source of Truth for Maryland’s money should have been disclosed in earlier campaign finance reports.

The Progressive Prosperity Caucus may be engaging in an increasingly common tactic where strategists from one party pay for ads and campaigns to sway the decisions of voters in another party — at least according to Democrats in states where the group has operated this year.

In Wisconsin, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong — a Democratic socialist who lost her primary — received nearly $1 million from a group called Middle Class Priorities that, in turn, got most of its funding from the Progressive Prosperity Caucus, according to new reports.

Similar tactics have been used in Maryland — including by Moore’s campaign.

Earlier this year, Moore’s campaign and the Maryland Democratic Party paid for ads during the primary that said that Republican Dan Cox is “too conservative for Maryland.” The idea behind that message is that it would boost Cox among primary voters, setting up a Cox-Moore rematch that would be favorable to Moore.

In the 2022 Republican primary, the Democratic Governors Association paid for pro-Cox ads.