A surprise Democratic donor, Steve Pajcic, a Florida lawyer and philanthropist, is spending at least $7 million through his newly formed group, New Deal for All, to run ads in four Republican-leaning Senate races: Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The effort, launched in October, began airing ads in Kansas and South Carolina this week, with plans to expand to Florida and Mississippi. Pajcic, 80, said he wants to ensure his money is used effectively and sees a real chance for Democrats to win seats once considered out of reach.
He previously donated only $147,000 to a Democratic Senate super PAC in 2024 but chose to fund this effort directly to maintain control over messaging. He aims to help Democrats win as many as 56 Senate seats, comparing the potential impact to the historic New Deal era. One ad in South Carolina targets Senator Darline Graham, labeling her “Data Center Darline” and quoting her debate remark about national security.
Pajcic has a long political history, including serving in the Florida Legislature and being the Democratic nominee for governor in 1986. He also raised funds for Barack Obama’s campaigns, with Obama serving as a groomsman at his daughter’s wedding in 2017.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing