Outside money is pouring into the contentious Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District as the race enters its home stretch.
Why it matters: The south and west Phoenix-based district is overwhelmingly Democratic, so the primary winner will almost definitely win the general election.
- Only two people have represented the district since 1991, and it's possible that whoever wins this year's election could hold the seat for many years.
The big picture: Phoenix City Council member Yassamin Ansari and Raquel Terán, a former state lawmaker and Arizona Democratic Party chair, are vying for the open seat.
- Valley pediatrician Duane Wooten is also seeking the Democratic nomination.
The latest: Protect Progress , a pro-cryptocurrency super PAC that "supports Democratic candidates committed to securing the United States as the home to innovators building the next generation of the internet," reported Monday spending more than $1.3 million to support Ansari.
- The television airtime buy came with just two weeks to go before the July 30 primary.
Between the lines: Terán had a significant edge in outside spending up until now.
Zoom in: Outside spending for Ansari is now more than $1.9 million, while outside groups have spent nearly as much helping Terán.
- That's on top of the $1.7 million Ansari reported raising through the end of June and the $1.1 million Terán raised.
- Ansari has also gotten about $350,000 in support from DMFI PAC, which backs pro-Israel Democrats.
- Terán's biggest outside backers are Victory PAC, which has spent a half million dollars on canvassing, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, which has spent about $335,000 on mail and digital ads.
The intrigue: Terán this week called out Ansari for receiving support from a super PAC partially funded by tech billionaires who are also backing former President Trump.
- Campaign finance records show that venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz each contributed $750,000 to Protect Progress last fall.
- Andreessen and Horowitz also plan to contribute to Trump, Axios' Dan Primack and Scott Rosenberg reported Wednesday.
What they're saying: "This is a blatant attempt by MAGA extremists to meddle in a Democratic primary and boost Yassamin Ansari. Democratic primary voters deserve to know who is doing this and why," Terán said in a press statement.
The other side: Pasquale Luz, Ansari's campaign manager, accused Terán and her supporters of false, misleading and negative attacks.
- "This desperate strategy does nothing to serve the voters. That is why Yassamin is focused on her progressive record of real accomplishments," he said in a statement to Axios.
Catch up quick: Ansari and Terán are running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Ruben Gallego, who's running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kyrsten Sinema.
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