The GOP-backing husband of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Democratic primary challenger has been pumping money into a Super PAC intended to end the freshman firebrand’s congressional career at one term, campaign records reveal.
Michelle Caruso-Cabrera’s husband, investment banker and Republican Party donor Stephen Dizard, is listed as the largest donor in the Super PAC named Fight For Our Communities, according to an initial report filed with the Federal Elections Commission.
Dizard contributed two donations totaling $30,000 in April — nearly three-quarters of the $42,500 raised.
But the group has received more donations since April, an amount that will be reported in its next FEC filing, due June 20, three days before the primary for the Bronx-Queens congressional seat.
Super PACs may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions or other political action committees for the purpose of advocating for or against a candidate.
But the action cannot be made “in consultation or cooperation with any candidate,” said FEC spokeswoman Judith Ingram.
A source close to the pro-Caruso-Cabrera/anti-AOC group — who requested anonymity — would only say “we’re going to get involved” when asked whether the group would finance ads or mailers attacking the congresswoman before final in-person voting on Tuesday, June 23.
Wednesday marks day five of nine consecutive days of early voting preceding Primary Day, while many New Yorkers are mailing in absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. That means many people in the 14th Congressional District already voted — likely limiting the impact of an 11th hour attack against AOC.
The source said AOC’s two-year voting record will certainly be fair game.
Caruso-Cabrera has criticized democratic socialist Ocasio-Cortez’s vote against a COVID-19 relief package and her opposition to an aborted Amazon plan to locate a new headquarters along the Queens waterfront.
The two have sparred in two virtual debates during the coronavirus pandemic but Caruso-Cabrera slammed the first-term congresswoman for declining to participate in a third in-person debate sponsored by the Parkchester Times.
Ocasio-Cortez stunned the political world in 2018 when she toppled ex-Congressman and Queens Democratic Party chairman Joe Crowley in the party primary. She has since become a rising star on the political left.
Dizard and Caruso-Cabrera married in 2014 and now reside in Sunnyside, Queens, which is in the congressional district.
Dizard has donated over $400,000 to Republicans since 1990 and $130,500 since 2014, according to FEC data.
He contributed $24,000 to “Winning Women 2016” — a PAC that funded Republican women candidates including: upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, former Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock, ex-New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and Arizona Sen. Martha McSally.
He also donated $2,700 to GOP Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s campaign for president in 2016.
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