ALBANY, N.Y. -- With a host of competitive primary races underway in the New York State Assembly, wealthy donors are making large contributions to super PACS seeking to influence the outcome of the vote.

"A small number of people, with a lot of money, can influence elections, are then going to get an agenda that's going to advantage that small number of people," said Karen Scharff, Citizen Action Executive Director.

A coalition of liberal, union-backed organizations on Tuesday released a report detailing the political giving by billionaire businessmen and others to independent expenditure campaigns that have in turn supported Democratic primary challengers to incumbent lawmakers in the Assembly.

"These reports documents in thorough detail the threat to our democracy and the ability of ordinary New Yorkers to have a voice in our state government and public policy making," Scharff said.

The money is being spent for specific outcomes, advocates say, including the passage of the education tax credit, a measure that's designed to encourage donations to public schools and private school scholarships. It is deeply opposed by public teachers unions. 

"They wanted to make sure they were going to get a donation when they give to public schools and private schools of their choice and they would get a 90 percent tax credit at the taxpayers' expense," said Jasmine Gripper, Alliance for Quality Education. "The legislators who have been fighting against this tax credit are some of the members they've been targeting with their PAC."

Education reform advocates who back the tax credit measure point to teachers unions that have sought to play a role in campaigns as well. This week alone, the New York State United Teachers union spent $85,000 on mailers in key Assembly primaries, but advocates who released Tuesday's report say there is a key difference.

"There is an important difference in American history between the moneied power of a cabal, a very small number of very rich people and the influence of an association or a combine - a large number of very regular people," said Michael Kink, Strong Economy For All.

The political giving is only likely to increase heading into the fall election with control of the Senate up in the air.