MEET
THE MIDTERMS’ 42 MEGA-DONORS
A few dozen wealthy folks account for nearly a third of super PAC donations
by Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars
Forty-two of the nation’s super wealthy have donated nearly $200 million to super PACs to shape next week’s midterm elections, according to a USA TODAY analysis of contributions of $1 million or more.
In all, this relatively small group has provided nearly a third of the more than $615 million raised by all super PACs in the 2014 election, the analysis shows.
Liberal environmentalist Tom Steyer dominates the field, having pumped more than $73 million into these PACs. Most of his money has flowed to Next-Gen Climate Action, the super PAC he created to make climate change a priority in key races.
Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has made gun control a top cause, is No. 2 at $20 million, nearly 65% of which has gone to his super PAC, Independence USA.
“This is a handful of people who are really driving this train and driving the dialogue” of the midterms, said Sheila Krumholz of the Center for Responsive Politics. “This is a harbinger of things to come” in 2016, when the presidency is at stake.
Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they operate independently of the candidates they support, have outspent the national parties by more than $107 million through midday Tuesday, a tally by the Center for Responsive Politics shows.
“When you give money to a generic party, you don’t necessarily get to direct how the money is being spent,” said Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. “I think donors are becoming more sophisticated. People are much more likely to want to decide how the money is spent.”
The analysis highlights the small number of Republican-aligned megadonors who are banding together to bankroll a handful of super PACs at the forefront of GOP efforts to win control of the Senate. Republicans need to net six seats to take the majority.
In recent weeks, six people have given both to American Crossroads, a super PAC tied to GOP strategist Karl Rove, and Ending Spending Action Fund, a super PAC created by TD Ameritrade founder J. Joe Ricketts, who wants less government spending.
The multiple givers include Ricketts and hedge funder Paul Singer, who gave $9.3 million to 10 super PACs. Nearly a third of Singer’s donations have gone to American Unity PAC, his pro-gay rights super PAC. Singer also gave a combined $5 million to Crossroads and Ending Spending.
Crossroads is one of the biggest Republican players in the midterms, spending more than $20 million — first to help mainstream Republican candidates beat back Tea Party-affiliated challengers during competitive primaries earlier this year and now blistering Democrats on the airwaves during the home stretch to Election Day.
A slew of recent polls show momentum building for a Republican takeover of the Senate.
“That investment has paid dividends,” Crossroads’ spokesman Paul Lindsay said. “The support we’ve received recently” from donors “is a sign of the progress we have made in the last two years.”
Only one woman donated more than $2 million to super PACs in this cycle: former wrestling executive Linda Mc-Mahon. She has contributed more than $2.6 million to nine groups, including Crossroads and Ending Spending.
“I think donors are becoming more sophisticated. People are much more likely to want to decide how the money is spent.” Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
A few dozen wealthy folks account for nearly a third of super PAC donations
by Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars
Forty-two of the nation’s super wealthy have donated nearly $200 million to super PACs to shape next week’s midterm elections, according to a USA TODAY analysis of contributions of $1 million or more.
In all, this relatively small group has provided nearly a third of the more than $615 million raised by all super PACs in the 2014 election, the analysis shows.
Liberal environmentalist Tom Steyer dominates the field, having pumped more than $73 million into these PACs. Most of his money has flowed to Next-Gen Climate Action, the super PAC he created to make climate change a priority in key races.
Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has made gun control a top cause, is No. 2 at $20 million, nearly 65% of which has gone to his super PAC, Independence USA.
“This is a handful of people who are really driving this train and driving the dialogue” of the midterms, said Sheila Krumholz of the Center for Responsive Politics. “This is a harbinger of things to come” in 2016, when the presidency is at stake.
Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they operate independently of the candidates they support, have outspent the national parties by more than $107 million through midday Tuesday, a tally by the Center for Responsive Politics shows.
“When you give money to a generic party, you don’t necessarily get to direct how the money is being spent,” said Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. “I think donors are becoming more sophisticated. People are much more likely to want to decide how the money is spent.”
The analysis highlights the small number of Republican-aligned megadonors who are banding together to bankroll a handful of super PACs at the forefront of GOP efforts to win control of the Senate. Republicans need to net six seats to take the majority.
In recent weeks, six people have given both to American Crossroads, a super PAC tied to GOP strategist Karl Rove, and Ending Spending Action Fund, a super PAC created by TD Ameritrade founder J. Joe Ricketts, who wants less government spending.
The multiple givers include Ricketts and hedge funder Paul Singer, who gave $9.3 million to 10 super PACs. Nearly a third of Singer’s donations have gone to American Unity PAC, his pro-gay rights super PAC. Singer also gave a combined $5 million to Crossroads and Ending Spending.
Crossroads is one of the biggest Republican players in the midterms, spending more than $20 million — first to help mainstream Republican candidates beat back Tea Party-affiliated challengers during competitive primaries earlier this year and now blistering Democrats on the airwaves during the home stretch to Election Day.
A slew of recent polls show momentum building for a Republican takeover of the Senate.
“That investment has paid dividends,” Crossroads’ spokesman Paul Lindsay said. “The support we’ve received recently” from donors “is a sign of the progress we have made in the last two years.”
Only one woman donated more than $2 million to super PACs in this cycle: former wrestling executive Linda Mc-Mahon. She has contributed more than $2.6 million to nine groups, including Crossroads and Ending Spending.
“I think donors are becoming more sophisticated. People are much more likely to want to decide how the money is spent.” Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
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