Congressional rivals attack Regunberg as 'privileged rich kid' supported by super PAC

Rhode Island congressional candidates, even those getting significant help of their own from outside groups, attacked Democratic primary rival Aaron Regunberg on Thursday for receiving support from a super PAC funded by his family.

The sharpest attack came from the left, where a segment of progressives has argued all year that Regunberg, the leading progressive candidate, isn't really one of them.

"He's stacked up endorsements from D.C. bigwigs. He's held high-priced fundraisers in Newport mansions. And now he's had his wealthy father-in-law throw more money at a single piece of mail than most Rhode Island families make in a year," state Sen. Ana Quezada said in a blistering attack on Regunberg. "Don't play cute with us, Aaron. We see you for who you are: a privileged rich kid with no real job experience who's cosplaying 'man of the people.'"

At the center of the dispute is a pro-Regunberg mailer distributed to voters this week, paid for by Progress Rhode Island, featuring comic book-style graphics describing the former Providence state representative as "Rhode Island's Proven Progressive Champion."

Progress Rhode Island's top donor is James Cielinski, global head of fixed income at Janus Henderson Investors, who contributed $125,000 in June, according to Federal Elections Commission filings. He is Regunberg's father-in-law, according to WPRI, which first reported the donation.

The other donor to Progress Rhode Island, giving $5,000, according to the FEC, is Erica Preiss Regunberg, Regunberg's mother.

Political opponents have attacked the Brown University-educated Regunberg for coming from a background of privilege since at least his 2018 run for lieutenant governor.

Election law allows unlimited contributions to super PACs such as Progress Rhode Island, formed to make "independent expenditures" supporting political campaigns that are not coordinated with the campaigns. That allows the donors to these PACS to give more than the $3,300 federal annual individual limit for traditional direct campaign contributions.

Regunberg has made limiting the influence of money in politics part of his campaign, taking a pledge not to accept donations from corporate PACs or lobbyists.

“I’ve opposed super PAC spending since the moment I entered politics," Regunberg said Thursday in a response to questions about Progress Rhode Island. "I oppose it in this race, and in Congress I’ll fight to overturn Citizens United and end outside spending. I’m proud of my record of winning real change for Rhode Island families; paid sick days for 100,000 workers, higher wages for moms and dads hustling tables and parking cars to make ends meet, free school transportation for thousands of public school students. Who I am is the child of a single mom, and the grandchild of a Holocaust survivor. I’ve spent my career fighting for Rhode Island families, and that’s exactly what I’ll do in Congress."

But Gabe Amo, another of Regunberg's 1st District special-election primary opponents, questioned whether it is possible for there to be no coordination when a super PAC supports a family member running for office.

"The opportunity to serve in Congress shouldn’t be limited to candidates with exceptionally wealthy family members," Gabe Amo said in a news release. "I am concerned that my opponent expects Rhode Islanders to believe that there’s been no coordination between his campaign and the super PAC entirely funded by his immediate family. I think we should all play by the same rules."

Amo is also getting support from Democrats Serve, which is running an ad saying he has "the experience we need in Congress." That PAC reported $36,463 spent in support of Amo last month.

Sabina Matos, another of the campaign frontrunners, had no comment about Regunberg's super PAC support.

Matos is getting significant help from outside groups in the campaign.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Bold PAC has released an ad that says "Rhode Island needs a fighter, a progressive champion, Sabina Matos." The PAC is also doing a mailer for Matos, according to a tweet from a consultant.

In a late July fundraising email, the Regunberg campaign had this to say about super PACs:

"Super PAC money has started pouring into our race. In fact, one Super PAC just booked over $300,000 in TV advertising for one of our opponents. That's a lot of outside spending.

"And here's the issue with Super PACs: they are, generally speaking, way more aggressive in their mudslinging. (Usually candidates are a bit more restrained, because going negative can reflect poorly on them, too.)"

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Congressional rivals pounce on Regunberg's well-funded family super PAC