'Dark money’ group accused of 'scheme' to tip election in favor of Democrats, manipulate GOP voters

A little-known organization called the American Forge Coalition is drawing accusations that it is a Democratic-aligned effort to discourage Republican turnout, with the midterm election a week away. Fox News Digital reports the group, which is not registered with the Federal Election Commission, has flooded voters in competitive House districts with mailers faulting GOP candidates for insufficient conservatism, timed to the opening of early voting.

Fox News Digital found the districts hit include those of Representatives Mike Lawler of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Marianette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Jen Kiggans of Virginia. North Carolina is also targeted, where Laurie Buckhout is challenging Representative Don Davis. Lawler's spokesman, Ciro Riccardi, called the operation a Democratic dark money scheme.

On immigration, the flyers sent to Lawler, Fitzpatrick and Kiggans voters portray the three as friendly to mass amnesty for lawbreakers. All three back the Dignity Act, which offers temporary legal status to undocumented migrants who pay fees and clear a background check, but none favors amnesty for people with criminal records. Buckhout and Van Orden, both pro-life, were portrayed as too permissive on abortion, a characterization Fox News Digital says stretches the truth.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →