Tag

Dark Money

All articles tagged with #dark money

politics1 month ago•25 min saved

Hidden Donors, Heavy Ads: The 2026 Midterms and the Dark Money Flood

The New York Times reports that at least $1 billion in anonymous “dark money” is fueling the 2026 midterms, with nonprofits and several secretive groups financing dozens of ads in key House and Senate races. In states like Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas, and Maine, these largely untraceable expenditures are shaping contests, aided by lax donor disclosure rules. The piece highlights how such spending underscores opacity in political financing and raises questions about accountability in elections.

via The New York Times|

#campaign-finance #dark-money #elections

politics3 months ago•9 min saved

Dark-money push to back moderates in Colorado primaries yields 2 wins in 8

Dark-money groups spent about $2.5 million to back more moderate Democrats in eight Colorado statehouse primaries but won only two races (HD42 and HD19). Losses included HD6 Camacho and the SD34 contest where Garcia Irlando defeated Andrés Carrera, among others. Spending flowed through non-disclosing nonprofits (One Main Street Colorado, Fair Economy for Coloradans, Colorado Affordability Project), while unions via Colorado Labor Action backed candidates like Halpern, Garcia Irlando, Nguyen and Jackson and won those races. The results tilt the Colorado Legislature leftward next year and mark a rebuke of corporate-money influence in primaries.

via The Colorado Sun|

#colorado #dark-money #elections-2026

politics3 months ago•8 min saved

Pop-up super PACs flood primaries with undisclosed donors

Outside groups are increasingly using ‘pop-up’ super PACs that can raise and spend unlimited money in the final days of primaries without disclosing donors until after the election, flooding races with roughly $48 million so far this cycle; the tactic exploits FEC timing, raises concerns about transparency, and has seen groups tied to Republicans and to AIPAC influence races; lawmakers are proposing tighter disclosures, including a bill to require reporting large donations in the last 20 days of an election.

via Politico|

#campaign-finance #dark-money #donor-disclosure

politics4 months ago•8 min saved

L.A.'s three-way mayoral primary tests the city's direction

Incumbent Karen Bass, councilmember Nithya Raman and reality TV figure Spencer Pratt dominate Los Angeles’ unusual mayoral primary, a race driven by AI campaign videos, dark-money mailers and national attention; with the top two likely to face off in November, the contest remains tight as Bass deals with fallout from the Palisades fire, Raman pushes aggressive housing and infrastructure reforms, and Pratt touts GOP ties in a nonpartisan race—reflecting deep public dissatisfaction and a highly unpredictable outcome.

via Los Angeles Times|

#dark-money #karen-bass #los-angeles-mayoral-race

politics4 months ago•31 min saved

Texas Senate runoff festers with record ad buys from elusive donors

Texas Tribune outlines a record‑shattering, multi‑million ad battle in the Cornyn–Paxton GOP Senate runoff, funded by a sprawling network of campaigns, PACs and largely opaque dark‑money groups. The piece highlights major donors and groups (including Bush, Murdoch, Ross Perot Jr., the Waltons, Harlan Crow, John Nau, Stephen Schwarzman) and donor‑funding mechanics that let Cornyn outspend Paxton overall, while both sides unleash aggressive attack ads. It also notes the role of 501(c)(4) organizations in masking donors and compiles spending data from the FEC and AdImpact up to early May.

via The Texas Tribune|

#campaign-finance #cornyn #dark-money

politics5 months ago•28 min saved

Dark-money tide fuels Virginia redistricting vote, aiming for a Democratic tilt

Virginia’s redistricting referendum has drawn about $93 million, largely from nonprofit groups that don’t disclose donors, masking who’s backing the effort to draw a map that could tilt Virginia’s 11-seat House toward Democrats (with estimates suggesting a shift to a 10–1 advantage).

via The Washington Post|

#campaign-finance #dark-money #elections

politics5 months ago•8 min saved

Megadonors Reshape 2026 Midterms With Hidden Money Web

CBS News outlines how billionaire donors and opaque political groups are shaping fundraising ahead of the 2026 midterms, highlighting the Mandels’ Democratic giving and the intertwined Majority Democrats PAC/The Bench, alongside MAGA Inc. and other Republican outfits, all within a murky donor network and a weakened FEC that raises concerns about transparency and possible coordination.

via CBS News|

#billionaires #campaign-finance #dark-money

politics6 months ago•2 min saved

DNC blocks measure targeting AIPAC as Middle East policy reforms stall

The DNC resolutions committee rejected a symbolic resolution targeting the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC and deferred two Middle East policy resolutions to a working group, citing a broader push against dark money; critics argue the move avoids addressing the lobby's influence amid strong progressive backlash and large AIPAC spending in primaries.

via The Guardian|

#aipac #dark-money #democratic-primaries

politics6 months ago•5 min saved

DNC punts on Israel policy as AIPAC influence looms

Democratic National Committee members rejected a symbolic resolution to curb AIPAC and dark-money groups in primaries and deferred broader Middle East policy measures, sending them to a nascent working group—highlighting a broader struggle within the party between pro-Israel influence and a base pushing for a tougher, more independent stance.

via Politico|

#aipac #dark-money #dnc

politics6 months ago•3 min saved

Trump-Backed AI Group Bets $100M on Midterm Push

A Trump-aligned nonprofit, Innovation Council Action, plans to spend at least $100 million this year to advance the White House’s AI policy agenda, potentially launching a super PAC; led by Taylor Budowich with backing from David Sacks, the group seeks to influence lawmakers on AI and data-center issues and identify friendly legislators while maintaining donor anonymity.

via The New York Times|

#ai #dark-money #midterms

politics6 months ago•5 min saved

Illinois Primaries Spotlight AIPAC Influence Amid Israel-Iran Tensions

In Illinois’ Democratic primaries, pro-Israel groups including AIPAC and shadow PACs are pouring millions to back or defeat candidates, signaling a test of influence as US voters grow wary of Israel policies and Iran-related conflicts; observers say AIPAC’s power may be waning but spending and tactics continue to shape several races, notably Kat Abughazaleh vs. Daniel Biss, with broader implications for the party’s foreign policy stance.

via Al Jazeera|

#aipac #dark-money #illinois-primaries

politics9 months ago•3 min saved

Hawley’s Dark Money Group Sparks GOP Divisions on Abortion

President Trump's advisers are upset with Senator Hawley's launch of an anti-abortion group, viewing it as a strategic misstep that could harm Republican prospects in the upcoming midterms, while also highlighting internal GOP tensions over the issue and potential 2028 presidential ambitions.

via Axios|

#anti-abortion #dark-money #hawley

politics2 years ago•9 min saved

"Anonymous Donations and Fundraising Shake Up 2024 Presidential Race"

A $64 million anonymous donation to the Impetus Fund, which ultimately supported Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, highlights the growing influence of "dark money" in U.S. elections. Despite efforts to uncover the donor's identity, the source remains unknown, illustrating the opaque nature of current campaign finance systems. Critics argue that such secrecy undermines transparency and public trust, while both Democratic and Republican campaigns continue to benefit from these undisclosed funds. As the 2024 election approaches, the role of dark money is expected to be even more significant.

via CBS News|

#2024-presidential-election #anonymous-donations #campaign-finance

politics2 years ago•5 min saved

"Early AI Investor's Non-Profit Emerges as Top Donor to Pro-Biden Dark-Money Group"

A husband-and-wife duo with ties to AI investments and cryptocurrency trading have emerged as major backers of the dark-money group supporting President Joe Biden, with their non-profit, BEMC 4 Association, donating $7.2 million to Future Forward USA Action in 2022. Future Forward, a Super PAC, has become a key supporter of the Biden-Harris agenda and 2024 efforts, raising a combined $208 million in 2023. The couple, who work at Jane Street, have also quietly increased their political spending, supporting various Democratic Party groups and candidates. The influence of dark money in politics has been criticized by Biden, despite benefiting from such groups, and the trend is set to continue with Future Forward planning the largest ever political advertising campaign by a Super PAC in 2024.

via CNN|

#ai-investments #dark-money #future-forward

cryptocurrencypolitics2 years ago•5 min saved

"2024 Election: Mysterious Crypto Group's Lobbying Surge"

A new mysterious nonprofit group called the Cedar Innovation Foundation, backed by the crypto industry, has set up a mailing address near Washington, D.C., and is ramping up lobbying efforts ahead of the 2024 elections. The group, heavily funded by crypto industry players, has launched advertisements against lawmakers critical of crypto and quietly hired strategists to fight on its behalf. With the crypto industry aiming to influence Congress and spending millions on lobbying, the foundation's efforts have drawn criticism from opponents who view it as a "dark money" campaign.

via CNBC|

#2024-election #cryptocurrency #cryptocurrencypolitics