The Democratic primary for Ohio's 11th Congressional District is drawing to a close. Shontel Brown, a Cuyahoga County Council Member, and county Democratic Party Chair, faces an ethics probe over her support for millions of dollars in contracts to companies owned by her partner and campaign donors. According to Newsweek and Daily Poster, the Ohio Attorney Generals Office was interested in an Intercept story from June and referred it to state auditors offices. Officials agreed that the matter should be brought before the state ethics committee. Unrelated to the investigation, new campaign finance disclosures reveal that Brown and a major Democratic party supporting her campaign were heavily funded by Republicans. These revelations are made with only one week remaining in the race between Brown and Nina Turner. Turner is a former state senator and progressive who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. Turner, many observers believe, still represents his campaign against Hillary Clinton. Clinton, a prominent backer of Brown, has often criticized Sanders for not being a Democrat and claimed that she was proud that her greatest enemies are Republicans. However, finance reports show that GOP donors have flocked to Clinton's choice candidate in the heated congressional election.Clinton and Sanders are again battling each other via state-level surrogates. The special election for Ohios 11th Congressional District was described as a reflection party tensions. While Brown has been supported by the Democratic establishment, such as Rep. Jim Clyburn, D.S.C., and well funded super PACs, progressives such as Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, D.N.Y., along with Justice Democrats, have gathered to support Turner. These tensions are fueled by donors who have a long history of supporting Republican candidates and are now funding Brown's campaign either directly or through the political action committee Democratic Majority for Israel. Brown is a major backer of her campaign. Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots' owner, is a close ally to Donald Trump. Kraft donated $1 million for Trump's inauguration. He has also supported many Republican candidates. Kraft, a strong supporter of Israel, donated $20 million in 2019 to a foundation to fight anti-Semitism and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. This earned him a gala reception at Jerusalem to accept the Israeli Genesis Prize. Kraft, along with his family, has contributed more than $22,000 to Browns campaign. Kraft individually donated $5,800 for the election maximum.Roger Synenberg, the former chair of Cuyahoga County Republican Party donated $1,000 to Browns' campaign. Synenberg was controversial for sending an anonymous letter to a county auditor in which he called him a snitch in a corruption investigation that was ongoing in the county. The hybrid PAC/superPAC Democratic Majority For Israel has spent $1.2 Million on ads opposing Turner and supporting Brown. It also has numerous donors who have generously donated to Republican causes and candidates. Leonard Feinstein donated $25,000 to DMFI in June 2014. He also made substantial contributions to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican Party of Cleveland County. Steven Fishman donated $20,000 to DMFI June 14 and made more than $10,000 in campaign contributions for Republicans running in 2020 including Lindsey Graham (Jim Risch), Mike Rounds, Mike Rounds, Michael McCaul, and Mike Rounds. Brown was also given $1,800 by him. David Heller, a Cleveland real estate executive, donated $10,000 and $2,800 respectively to DMFI on Feb 23. Heller, a long-standing supporter of Republicans in Ohio, and Texas, donated $13,000 to the Ohio Governor. Mike DeWine in 2020 and $5,000 to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who are leading the push for restricting voting rights in Texas. Neil Kadisha donated $2,000 to Brown and $18,000 to DMFI, respectively, to Trump's reelection campaign in 2019. He also donated to the then-Vice President Mike Pences PAC. Kadisha donated large amounts to the Republican National Committee as well as the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2012. While Brown was not directly supported by some Republican donors, they have poured money into DMFI. David Horowitz donated $10,000 to DMFI as a June 7th donation by Tasty Brands' executive at New York's school cafeteria food business. He donated $25,000 to Senator Mitch McConnell's super PAC, The Senate Leadership Fund in 2020 and made maxed-out contributions for losing Georgia Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler, David Perdue. Philip De Toledo, president of Capital Group, donated $50,000 on June 8, 2020 to DMFI. De Toledo contributed more than $25,000 to Republican candidates for the 2020 election, including right-wing Reps. Patrick McHenry & Jim Risch. Victor Kohn, another Capital Group executive, donated $100,000 to DMFI through his family trust on June 10. He spent more than $10,000 supporting Republicans Kay Granger, Kay Granger, Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis in the 2020 cycle.How is it possible for someone to be the party chair, but claim she is a Democrats Democrat and accept Republican money?
