PoliticsBernie Sanderszephyr teachoutPaul Singer

This Democrat Isn't Challenging Her Opponent To A Debate. She's Challenging A Donor To His Super PAC.

Zephyr Teachout is cutting out the middleman.
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

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Democrat Zephyr Teachout is competing against Republican John Faso to represent New York's 19th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images

In May, billionaire Paul Singer fundamentally changed one of the most interesting political contests of 2016. The vulture fund manager wrote a $500,000 check to a super PAC supporting John Faso, a Republican trying to fill an open congressional seat in New York’s Hudson Valley. Overnight, Faso became a serious contender in a race that had been dominated by progressive Democrat Zephyr Teachout.

Teachout is popular in New York’s 19th District. The counties sandwiched between Albany and New York City formed the backbone of her support during her 2014 primary challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), and the district leans narrowly Democratic. Teachout’s fundraising in the first quarter of the year was off the charts. Her $530,000 haul was driven by small-dollar donations and some help from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and she barely spent anything during the primary.

Faso had been relying on super PAC funding from another hedge fund billionaire, Robert Mercer, to get through a much tighter primary contest on the Republican side. When Singer signed on in May, Faso had the firepower to challenge Teachout in the general election.

On Monday, Teachout decided to bypass Faso himself and go after his donor. In a video posted to her Facebook account, she criticized Singer and challenged him to a debate.

“This is very serious,” Teachout says in the ad. “Paul Singer, I challenge you to come here and have a debate with me … I think the people of the 19th District deserve to hear your actual voice when you’re putting so much money into trying to buy up representation.”

Watch the ad below:

Teachout is an academic corruption expert who is building her campaign message around curbing the influence of large corporations and money in politics. So highlighting Singer isn’t just an attempt to dismiss Faso as a tool of big money interests ― it also draws attention to Teachout’s strongest issue.

But the ad itself is also an example of the degree to which political donors are increasingly taking up campaign space that was previously reserved for actual politicians. In the run-up to the 2014 elections, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) relentlessly attacked the Koch brothers from the Senate floor, making their involvement in conservative politics an issue. During the Democratic presidential primary, Sanders assailed eventual nominee Hillary Clinton’s paid speeches to Goldman Sachs.

While Goldman Sachs tried to stay out of the limelight, Charles and David Koch have become political celebrities and subjects of multiple biographies and interviews on cable news.

Singer and Faso did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Huffington Post spoke with Teachout on the latest episode of its politics podcast, “So, That Happened.” Listen to the interview, embedded below: 

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Before You Go

What Your Members Of Congress Can Do For You
Help With Federal Agencies(01 of07)
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Having trouble with Medicare, Social Security or veterans benefits, the IRS, your passport or immigration situations? Your member of Congress might be able to help. But, as Brad Fitch of the Congressional Management Foundation advises, the key is to make sure you don't procrastinate and that you have a legitimate case.

Even if he really wants to help, your member of Congress can't do much if you notify the office at 5 p.m. Friday about a family member set to be deported Monday morning. Likewise, members of Congress can't help you circumvent the law, and they can only help you resolve matters that fall under federal jurisdiction.

Each member has staffers -- usually based in their district -- who focus on helping constituents with these problems. Before they can inquire on your behalf, though, the office must have a privacy release form, notes Kathie Green, director of constituent services for Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.). Each office has its own form, which can be found on its website.

You must contact a member of Congress who represents you; otherwise, they can't help you. Green points out that you should contact the office of only one member of Congress. Asking multiple offices to help you further burdens the agencies they're contacting and doesn't improve your chances of getting help.

"From a constituent standpoint, sometimes it's hard to have patience," Green said. Congressional staffs "do the best job possible" and have developed relationships with federal agencies to help you as quickly as they can. (credit:Mariusz Jurgielewicz/Getty Images)
White House Tours(02 of07)
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You must submit public White House tour requests through your member of Congress. You should ask between 6 months and 21 days before the requested date. (credit:Chris Kleponis/AFP/Getty Images)
Congratulatory Letters(03 of07)
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Most congressional offices have a page on their websites where you can request a congressional commendation, or a letter from the member of Congress to recognize an achievement or honor. Requests can also be mailed to the offices. Many offices ask you to allow 30 to 60 days to receive the letter.

Members of Congress send letters for a variety of occasions, including milestone birthdays, Eagle Scout Awards, Girl Scout Gold Awards, citizenship, military academy appointments, retirements, births, graduations and weddings. (credit:Barros & Barros/Getty Images)
U.S. Capitol Tours(04 of07)
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You may request a Capitol tour through the office of your representative or senator. Many offer staff-led tours to constituents. Otherwise, they can help you book a general tour through the Capitol Visitor Center. (You can also request a tour directly through the center.) (credit:Fuse via Getty Images)
Visit To Galleries Of The House Or Senate(05 of07)
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You can request a pass to visit the House or Senate galleries from your representative or either senator from your state. Capitol tours do not include access to the galleries. (credit:Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)
Military Academy Nominations(06 of07)
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If you're applying to a U.S. military academy (such as West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Naval Academy), you will need a nomination, such as a congressional one. (There are other possible types of nominations, but congressional nominations are available to anyone.)

You may apply for a nomination from each member of Congress who represents you -- your U.S. representative as well as both senators from your state. Each member of Congress is allowed to have a maximum of five cadets at each academy at one time and is allowed to nominate up to 10 individuals at one time. (credit:H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)
Flag Requests(07 of07)
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You can purchase American flags through congressional offices, and you can request to have the flag first flown over the Capitol for an additional fee. Requests to fly the flag on a specific date must be made in advance. Most congressional offices have a form or link on their website where you can purchase the flag and request to have it flown over the Capitol. (credit:Ron Elmy/Getty Images)
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