Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Controversial Pro-Israel PAC Launders Spending Through Another PAC (Nebraska's 2nd District, the Blue Dot)
Nebraska congressional candidate Denise Powell had rejected the support of Democratic Majority for Israel. So DMFI transferred its ad buy to a different organization.
https://prospect.org/2026/04/30/controversial-pro-israel-pac-launders-spending-powell-nebraska/
Centrist Democrat Denise Powell is running in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District. Credit: Denise Powell for Congress
A swing-seat congressional primary in Nebraska that’s already swarming with outside spending has a new twist with a familiar ring. Big money from a pro-Israel super PAC was en route to help its preferred candidate, but the ham-fisted attempt to conceal that support may backfire on its intended beneficiary, centrist New Democrat–endorsed candidate Denise Powell.
Since mid-March, outside groups have spent $2.93 million (as of April 29) in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District, supporting Powell and opposing state Sen. John Cavanaugh, a populist candidate with an extensive personal and family political history in the Omaha region that the district encompasses. Cavanaugh had been the early favorite in the race for the open seat vacated by Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) and won by Democrats in the last two presidential elections. The nearly $3 million already poured into the contest is an enormous amount for the relatively modest media market of Omaha and environs. The election is May 12.
Some of that outside money was scheduled to come from Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel super PAC. DMFI had made a $176,050 ad buy for the week of April 27. The group filled out issue advertisement agreement forms with WOWT, the NBC affiliate in Omaha, among other stations. The WOWT agreement was signed by Michael D’Ettorre of the media placement agent Grassroots Media. Jay Peterson, the treasurer of DMFI PAC, is listed on the form. The form states that the ad was submitted to the station last Friday, April 24.
WOWT filled out a “buy sheet” for the ads, showing precisely when they would run throughout the day, with slots in the morning and evening local news broadcasts, Meet the Press, The Today Show, Saturday Night Live, the NBA playoffs, the Kentucky Derby, and various prime-time programs.
snip