It hasn’t received much attention, but AIPAC and outside groups are spending big in the open race for Minnesota’s second congressional district. The DFL-endorsed candidate is Matt Little. He’s being outspent 32:1.
Little is a former Minnesota State Senator and former mayor of Lakeville, Minnesota. Polling from earlier in the summer showed Matt leading his Republican opponent by five points.
Watch Out Interview
In this interview, Little explains how AIPAC-linked bundling and dark-money PACs have created a massive spending gap in his primary. He calls for transparency from groups like 314 Action Fund and urges fellow Democrats to reject AIPAC and corporate PAC money. He lays out a platform centered on Medicare for All shaped by his mother’s long-term illness, replacing ICE while holding its leadership criminally accountable, and using the power of the purse and continuing resolutions to push generational reforms on healthcare, wages, unions, and universal pre-K. Little also shares personal stories about his queer family members and mentors, explains how those relationships drive his commitment to passing the Equality Act and banning conversion therapy, and discusses protecting gender-affirming care and ending discrimination in long-term and nursing home care under a universal healthcare system.
John Parker: So according to your campaign, as I understand it, you’re claiming that you’re being outspent 32 to one by outside spending groups and AIPAC bundling. So first, can you tell us how you came to those numbers and where is this money going?
Matt Little: Yeah, the ratio may have recently increased too. So there’s a lot of factors and it’s very complicated, so I’m going to try and boil it down. So the first way this happened is AIPAC is supporting Matt Klein. They have bundled now what we believe to be well over $300,000 to him for his direct campaign. And for folks that maybe aren’t familiar with bundling, what bundling is a group puts up a website link, sometimes it’s public, sometimes it’s hidden. In this case, it’s been hidden. And then all their network donates to that link, which then goes directly to the campaign. So they’ve been doing that for Matt Klein for the last month. The way we know that is on a single day in the FEC reports. So for instance, on June 28th and July 28th, tons and tons of money, hundreds of thousands of dollars come in on a single day.
So that’s usually an indicator of bundling. The other way you know it’s bundling is you’ll get contributions of something like $3,333.33 went to this individual. Typically, that’s a bundling split going to multiple candidates. So there’s that direct bundling. And then AIPAC is funneling money through a group called 314 Action PAC, which has traditionally accepted AIPAC money. They just did a nearly $1 million ad buy late last week on a single day. So that’s an indicator that this is AIPAC coming in. And then with our other opponent, Kayla Berg, there are three PACs that are supporting her and spending a great deal of money on her behalf, over $800,000, which have all received huge chunks of AIPAC money as well. So that’s how we know it. There will be some more ad buys this week. So we are getting way outspent, but we’ve got the people on the ground and we’ve got the support. And so we keep on fighting despite the spending.
John Parker: Can we take a look at 314 Action Fund here? Because this one seems really complicated because there was the Intercept report diving into them that was, I believe, validated by other outlets that they were taking money from AIPAC, even though their mission, they claim is to advance doctors and people with medical degrees for scientists, get them elected. And so they claim that they’re not taking any more AIPAC money. How do we know that it’s AIPAC money that’s getting funneled into 314 Action Fund?
Matt Little: Yeah, this is the other glaring problem in our campaign finance laws is because you can time funding these PACs in a way in which you don’t have to report who gave that money until after the election is over. So I would like to say and call out 314 Action to show us who has given you money in the last month. Make those public, report it early, report it voluntarily. Let’s have some transparency here. As an organization that believes in science and facts, let’s have the facts out there while people are making a decision. So I call on them to release their reports so that we know who’s giving them money on behalf of Matt Klein.
John Parker: I mean, something that 314 has put out there to say, well, we don’t take AIPAC money is look, we endorsed Al-Sayed in Michigan. He is very much anti. He’s running for the US Senate, for folks who don’t know. He’s considered the progressive candidate, not a big fan of the government of Israel. I mean, this is where I say that 314 seems in this really weird space where they did take money, they claim they’re not taking money. You’re actually asking for them to reveal it, but they’re also endorsing the progressive candidate who’s anti-Israel in Michigan. I mean, it’s just creating this whole mess.
Matt Little: Yeah. Well, I think we look at history. I think that’s the first indicator absent the current facts, which they are not going to release voluntarily. Just so all your listeners know, even though we asked them to, they’re not going to. And so just because you support one good candidate doesn’t mean you’re not supporting one bad candidate at the same time. And look to history. They’ve done it before. There’s no reason to say they’re not doing it right now. And it’s that sudden influx of massive amounts of money that 314 wouldn’t have by themselves. That’s really the indicator that this is happening coupled with the fact that the bundling on behalf of APAC for Matt Klein is happening at the same time. I mean, the evidence are there, the facts are there. Show us the receipts.
“I call on them to release their reports so that we know who’s giving them money on behalf of Matt Klein.”
John Parker: Can you speak to this larger issue? We’ve seen AIPAC funding coming up in the Senate race with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and current Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota Congressional District two. And now it’s surfacing here. And this is causing a big schism within the DFL party. Can you speak to what this funding means and what this means for the future of the Minnesota Democratic Party?
Matt Little: Yeah, I don’t think it’s a huge schism within the Democratic Party just because I think about 80% or more of people don’t want their candidates funded by APAC at all. Some people don’t care. Some people think it’s a good thing, but the overwhelming majority within the Democratic Party is they know this is a bad thing. And so I think the future of the party is going to hold our political candidates accountable for where their money is coming from. And this is something that’s not new this election. It has been bubbling the last few cycles, especially when it comes to corporate PAC money and some of this dark money that you just don’t know where it’s coming from. We’d be in a different situation if people were willing to put their name on the literature and the ads that they’re putting out. But instead we have all these shell packs that it’s like Minnesotans for Minnesotans, something so generic.
It’s just positive but super generic. But if people were willing to put their name on the money they were spending, that would be a totally different thing. That would provide transparency, that would provide voters with the knowledge of who’s funding who and what people are truly about. It’s no secret that who you’re funded by is a really, really, really strong indicator of how you’re going to vote. And so people have a right to know.
John Parker: How do you see this impacting the race right now in the district? As you’re out on the ground and you’re talking to voters, how do you see this dark money impacting the race?
Matt Little: Once people hear the things I’m telling you, they’re voting for us automatically. The problem with the way our campaigns and democracy operate is you can drown out the truth with millions and millions of dollars, and that is exactly what they’re trying to do. So we’re getting it out there in every avenue we can, and we are going to win this thing despite this money.
John Parker: What are you hearing, Matt, from voters and what their priorities are for August 11th and then also in November? What do they want to see you do in Congress?
Matt Little: Yeah, I think the number one thing people want to see is someone that’s actually going to go to DC and fight, not just look at their plaque and enjoy people calling them by some sort of title. They don’t want people going there and somehow expanding their wealth 20 to 30 times within a few years. People want someone that are going to go there and actually take on the administration and even take on some of the people in our own party who are very comfortable with the status quo. And I think my brand, my history speaks to that. I will fight. And I’ve fought people in my own party just as much as I fought Republicans sometimes because winning an election doesn’t change anything. Actually passing legislation after that election is the real win. And so the things I want to do, number one is Medicare for all.
That’s based on my personal experience. My mom has been sick most of my life, and I just don’t think she should have had to cling to a job to get to the healthcare she needed because that job was making her sicker. Number two is we need to hold ICE accountable. I’m of the belief they should be completely replaced. There’s some core functions that can be taken on by another agency like getting violent people out of the country, keeping drugs out of this country. But I also think someone in that structure, if not multiple people in that structure, need to go to jail. Otherwise, another president is going to have their own personal army to discriminate against people they don’t like, and we just cannot have that in our democracy. And so that’s a big priority. But the third thing is what we were just talking about, which is people are very skeptical of people running for office right now that aren’t willing to reject certain money.
So corporate PAC money is number one, AIPAC money is number two, and then you have crypto money and you have AI money. People don’t want you taken down, especially health insurance money. And so I would like just to say that I would like Matt Klein and Kayla Berg to publicly reject the dollars that APAC is sending. And for Kayla Berg, I would like her to tell her PACs that they should no longer accept APAC money and she should do that publicly. And if they refuse, she should return the money those PACs gave her that are derived from APAC. And if they don’t do that, it tells the voters exactly what they need to know, which is they are bought and paid for.
John Parker: Clearly you’re not shy of calling people out and having those fights. You talked about being a fighter just a few minutes ago. I’m curious how you would see that. You’ve named some legislative priorities. How would you see that playing out if you’re in Congress starting in January? Give me an example how you could see that fight playing out.
Matt Little: I think there’s going to be an opportunity every few months because unfortunately we fund our country, we fund our budget with these continuing resolutions and not real annual budgets or bi-annual budgets or anything. So every single time a continued resolution, a CR comes up, that gives us leverage. And so I think we’re going to take back the US House this year without question. And that’s the power of the purse. So anything we’re trying to get done, we have that leverage every single time a CR comes up. So I think we should use that on some of the ICE requirements, which the Democrats did try to do, but I do think national Democrats need more spine. They folded on withholding the budget on healthcare and they’ve really folded on some of the ICE stuff. So I think we need a heck of a lot more spine, but we also need to build for 2029 when there’s going to be real opportunity for change.
I think we can take back the US Senate and I think we can take the White House. And that means we have the House Senate and the presidency. And that’s going to be our opportunity for generational change, structural change, not just handing more money to insurance companies, but actually passing a healthcare system like Medicare for All, to fundamentally alter our economy. We can raise the minimum wage. We can make it more easy to join a union. We can pass universal pre-K, which I think is necessary. There’s so much we can do, but we have to build for that through 2029. Strategically, I think the best thing we can do is send across a raft of legislation that actually helps people on healthcare, on jobs, on housing, because they’re going to vote no on it just out of partisan reasons. And if it does pass, Trump is going to veto it because if he’s not the person behind it, the name on it, he hates it.
So he’s going to have to reject a whole bunch of legislation that will actually help people. And I think that’ll wake people up to what’s really going on in this country.
John Parker: Can you talk to our listeners and viewers about your LGBTQ priorities and what you would do if elected, well, in August and then in November?
Matt Little: Yeah, thanks. And if you’ve got time for a bit of a story, when I was in high school, my aunt came out and the way she came out is announcing their celebration essentially of their commitment ceremony. And I remember at the time, there were a lot of folks in my circle that were a little squeamish about it, had some jokes to make about it. And I very vividly remember telling those folks where to go. And so I was pretty young then. But then the greatest thing happened, which is 14 years later, my aunts were able to get married. And because of that, they asked me to speak at their wedding. I’ll never forget that. So these issues are deeply personal to me, someone I love very much who might be watching this that’s trans. And both my political mentors are queer. And so a lot of my success is built on folks that weren’t accepted back then.
And so I think for me, passing the Equality Act is a big one just to make sure people can’t be discriminated against because of their sex, gender, or sexual orientation. I think that’s common sense to me. No one should be discriminated against for who they are. And also an obvious one I think is banning conversion therapy nationwide, just very harmful. But I think, I want to say politicians, but leaders, politicians, elected officials, whatever you want to call folks, I think they need to lead in a personal way too, which is be there for people. And I certainly did that when I was the mayor of Lakeville and there were some issues around bullying. I was there. So I think people need to step up on a personal basis and show that leadership, not just tweet about the legislation they’re going to try and pass.
John Parker: Something that happens in Congress a lot is where Republicans, we won’t have Representative Nancy Mace anymore, but she was one of the most guilty of doing this, would be take a neutral piece of legislation, Defense Authorization Act, budget, whatever, and throw in some poison pill against the LGBTQ community. I mean, if you’re elected, how would you go about navigating this? Because it’s not going to stop. NAGA will still be in Congress next year and for a long time, unfortunately. How would you see yourself navigating that as a legislator?
Matt Little: Embarrass them. Embarrass them for putting that stuff on there. For people that say they want this very in-the-box vision of what America looks like, they are sure obsessed with what’s outside of their own little box. And I think there’s ways and ways to talk about the issues that would embarrass folks. And I think that’s what we got to do because they aren’t susceptible to facts or rationality. And so you’ve got to shame them.
John Parker: A big issue that we get a lot of questions about and commentary here on this show is around accountability, holding the Trump administration accountable, particularly around all of their anti – LGBTQ actions. Not just Trump, but all of his cabinet members or what they’re doing in their various agencies. The House has oversight powers. How would you see yourself trying to get accountability on behalf of your constituents, on behalf of your LGBTQ constituents, if you’re elected?
Matt Little: Yeah, I think the subpoena power is the most powerful tool we have in the US House, although there won’t be a conviction in the Justice Department if Trump is still there. But again, if we were to take back the presidency, there’s going to be a whole lot of people that get very nervous about not showing up and not answering questions. So I think that is the power. I think we need to call out all the nonsense and just silliness of the things they’ve done with grant programs to support LGBTQ folks and kids, especially in the education sphere and the academic sphere. I think we need to bring that across and call them out because it’s just so silly and cruel. It’s just you’re targeting some of the most vulnerable kids in our schools, not only through legislation, but also on social media and in speeches. You’re putting people at risk, and so it’s time to be held accountable.
John Parker: You mentioned healthcare earlier in the interview. How would you see, if we get Medicare for all, if one were able to get that done, how do you see gender-affirming care, access to it being implemented within that? Matt Little: Yeah, care is care. And so I think that would definitely be included in any bill I pass. And also just generally, Medicare would be expanded to cover 100% instead of 80%. It would be expanded to dental and vision and also long-term care. And so that’s another issue is making sure there’s no discrimination in long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes. That’s becoming a bigger and bigger issue because that generation that has now felt comfortable being who they are, are now in the open. And a lot of places have discriminated against them. So we’ve got a lot of work to do. A lot of work to do.
John Parker: If readers are digging what they’re hearing, how do they connect with your campaign?
Matt Little: I think the best thing they do is go to littleforcongress.com. That’s littleforcongress.com. There’s a bunch of volunteer opportunities. Every week we do a text bank, a phone bank, and a door knock for volunteers. We’ll do all the training. It’s pretty quick and easy. So there’s that. But also if you’re a fan of me, I appreciate that. If you’re a fan of David Hogg, he’s coming into town this weekend to come and help us out to do GOTV, get out the vote. So watch our Mobilize. If you’re on that, watch our Mobilize for events. Would be good to see you out there. Early voting is underway. Election day is August 11th. For more information on Matt Little visit: littleforcongress.com.
