Last year, Democratic leaders in the House made only the most perfunctory showing of support for conservative Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski as he dealt with a primary challenge from businesswoman Marie Newman, but this time, with a rematch underway, he's getting a lot more help. DCCC chair Cheri Bustos, who represents a district in downstate Illinois, is headlining a high-dollar fundraiser for Lipinski in Chicago next month, with tickets starting at $1,000.
And the timing sticks out: Lipinski is implacably opposed to abortion rights, which this very week are under unprecedented attack in state legislatures. Bustos doesn't appear to have mentioned the attempts to ban abortion in Alabama and Georgia on her Twitter account, though she did take the time to call attention to the fact that she founded the "bipartisan Air Cargo Caucus" earlier this year.
While naturally the D-Trip is going to say it'll protect incumbents, Bustos is by no means obligated to do what she's doing. In 2018, Nancy Pelosi went through the motions of saying she supported Lipinski—and then promptly did nothing else. Meanwhile, Bustos' predecessor as DCCC chair, New Mexico Rep. Ben Ray Luján, didn't even publicly endorse Lipinski.
Bustos, of course, has previously antagonized progressive activists—and a number of members of her own caucus—by needlessly formalizing an unwritten practice political players were well aware of: the committee's refusal to work with vendors who provide services to candidates challenging Democratic incumbents.
Whatever internal politics or misguided notions of loyalty are inspiring Bustos, though, there will always be consultants willing to work with candidates on the outs with the establishment. Indeed, some operatives thrive in that niche. And as for money, Newman's already been outraising Lipinski this cycle, so it's no surprise to see he needs propping up. Given that he squeaked by last year's primary with just a 51-49 win, Lipinski's gong to need all the help he can get—whether he deserves it or not.