New Steadiness CEO Jim Davis’s $1 million donation to Josh Kraft’s tremendous PAC is unhealthy optics for Kraft and extra ammo for Mayor Michelle Wu, who’s making an attempt to tie Kraft to the wealthy white Trump man membership.
Davis, a billionaire and Republican donor who has gotten concerned in Boston races earlier than, gave $1 million to the PAC referred to as Your Metropolis, Your Future, which is backing Kraft, marketing campaign finance information present.
The disclosure that Davis is not directly bankrolling Kraft could profit his marketing campaign financially however undercuts his message, which is struggling to achieve traction in opposition to the lefty favourite Wu.
The mayor has beforehand charged that rich builders and enterprise pursuits are behind Kraft’s marketing campaign, so the Davis donation performs proper into her palms.
What’s subsequent, a Trump endorsement?
Davis donated nearly $400,000 to the Trump Victory Committee in 2016 and has given thousands and thousands to Republican candidates all through the nation. He has additionally supported Democrats just like the late Tom Menino.
Within the days earlier than the 2021 Boston preliminary election, Davis donated $495,000 to a brilliant PAC backing Wu’s eventual opponent, Annissa Essaibi George and that brought on some controversy.
“Jim shares Annissa’s love for the city of Boston and her passion for providing opportunities for every Bostonian,” a New Steadiness spokesperson stated on the time.
One huge distinction on this race is that Josh Kraft doesn’t want the monetary help. He’s able to elevating thousands and thousands from his household wealth and from rich associates and supporters.
Wu has a number of tremendous PACs backing her and has greater than $1 million in her marketing campaign account.
Kraft has repeatedly emphasised that he’s a registered Democrat now regardless that Boston’s election is nonpartisan, and has disavowed any ties to Trump although his father, Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, is a Trump supporter.
Tremendous PACs are legally prohibited from coordinating with campaigns.
A spokesman for Kraft’s marketing campaign declined to touch upon the Davis donation to Your Metropolis, Your Future.
That silence speaks volumes.
From day one in every of his marketing campaign, Kraft has sought to distance himself from Trump and the Republican Celebration, saying he doesn’t observe in his father’s footsteps relating to political leanings.
The disclosure of Davis’s contribution on Wednesday got here on the identical day Kraft was making an attempt to get consideration for releasing his first digital advert of the marketing campaign highlighting Wu’s help for the pricey White Stadium renovation.
“By every measure, Mayor Wu has failed to solve Boston’s housing crisis,” Kraft says within the advert. “At the same time, (she) has committed to spending ‘whatever it costs’ to rebuild White Stadium, a facility which will primarily benefit wealthy private investors instead of BPS student athletes.”
Davis additionally acquired concerned within the 2023 and 2021 races, donating greater than $1 million to an out of doors group making an attempt to defeat Wu in 2021 and pouring cash into a number of metropolis council races two years in the past.
A number of council candidates had been pressured to disavow the Davis contributions from a brilliant PAC referred to as “Forward Boston,” citing his Republican connections.
