314 PAC
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| 314 PAC | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Type: | Super PAC |
| Founder(s): | Shaughnessy Naughton |
| Year founded: | 2014 |
| Website: | Official website |
314 PAC is a super PAC that was created to recruit science and technical professionals to run for elected office.[1][2] According to the group's Facebook page, it "intends to leverage the goals and values of the greater science, technology, engineering and mathematics community to give these new recruits the resources they need to becom viable, credible, Democratic candidates."[3]
314 PAC is affiliated with 314 Action, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that also aims to elect STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) professionals.[4][5]
Mission
According to the group's Facebook page, the mission of 314 PAC is as follows:[2]
| “ | To recruit and elect candidates with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) backgrounds to federal office.
To promote greater diversity of perspective in government and to leverage the resources of the STEM community to elect these candidates. Finally, to restore a collaborative, rational and fact based agenda to policymaking.[6] |
” |
Background
314 PAC was founded in 2014 by chemist and former congressional candidate Shaughnessy Naughton.[7][8] Naughton served as the organization's first executive director.[7] On why she began 314 PAC, which is named after the first three digits of Pi, Naughton said, "After running for Congress, I know first-hand how difficult it can be for a candidate with a background in science to stay financially competitive in a tight race. 314 PAC will give voters an opportunity to recruit a new generation of people with scientific and technical experience to office." [8][7]
Work
Endorsed candidates
According to the 314 PAC Facebook page, the organization endorsed the following candidates during the 2014 and 2016 election cycles:[9][10][11]
2016
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
- John Plumb (D-NY)
- Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
2014
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Seth Moulton (D-MA)
- Bill Foster (D-IL)
- Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Expenditures
During the 2016 election cycle, 314 PAC spent $80,350 on ads and communications supporting or opposing candidates. The table below outlines these independent expenditures.[12]
| Independent expenditures made by 314 PAC[12] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election cycle | Candidate | Party | State | Office | For or against | Total | Race outcome |
| 2016 | Richard Burr |  |
NC | U.S. Senate | Against | $1,000 | Candidate elected
|
| 2016 | John Plumb |  |
NY | U.S. House | For | $1,000 | Candidate defeated
|
| 2016 | Steve Santarsiero | |
PA | U.S. House | Against | $75,350 | Candidate defeated
|
| 2016 | Danny Tarkanian | |
NV | U.S. House | Against | $3,000 | Candidate defeated
|
Leadership
Chemist and former congressional candidate Shaughnessy Naughton founded 314 PAC in 2014 and served as its first executive director.[7][8]
Finances
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 314 PAC reported the following financial information for the 2016 election cycle on December 31, 2016.[13]
| Finances for 314 PAC, 2016 Election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year | Total Receipts | Total Spent | Total Independent Expenditures |
| 2016 | $207,157 | $223,159 | $80,350 |
Tax status
314 PAC is a super PAC. A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees. A super PAC is not legally considered a political action committee (PAC) and as such is regulated under separate rules.[14][15]
Affiliated programs
314 PAC is affiliated with 314 Action, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that aims to elect STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) professionals to the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures and governor's offices. It also holds among its goals to "promote the responsible use of data driven fact based approaches in public policy."[3]
314 Action is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its 501(c) status refers to a section of the U.S. federal income tax code concerning social welfare organizations.[16] Organizations that have been granted 501(c)(4) status by the Internal Revenue Service are exempt from federal income tax.[17] Section 501(c) of the U.S. tax code has 29 sections listing specific conditions particular organizations must meet in order to be considered tax-exempt under the section. Unlike 501(c)(3) organizations, however, donations to 501(c)(4) organizations are not tax-deductible for the individual or corporation making the contribution. 501(c)(4) organizations may engage in political lobbying and political campaign activities. This includes donations to political committees that support or oppose ballot measures, bond issues, recalls, or referenda.
- See also: 501(c)(4) organizations on Ballotpedia
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 314 PAC. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Open Secrets, "314 PAC Summary, 2016," accessed June 30, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Facebook, "314 PAC, About," accessed June 30, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 314 Action, "Mission," accessed June 18. 2017
- ↑ 314 Action, "Home," accessed June 30, 2017
- ↑ Note:When listing the 314 PAC website, both the Twitter and Facebook accounts for 314 PAC include a link to the 314 Action homepage.
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Politics PA, "Naughton Creates PAC Aimed at STEM Professionals," accessed June 27, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Princeton University, "Shaughnessy Naughton," accessed June 27, 2017
- ↑ Facebook, "314 PAC, Photo," March 8, 2016
- ↑ Facebook "314 PAC, Photo," July 7, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "314 PAC, Photo," November 5, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Open Secrets, "314 PAC Independent Expenditures," accessed June 27, 2017
- ↑ Open Secrets, "314 PAC, Summary," accessed June 27, 2017
- ↑ The Atlantic, "The New York Times' Disingenuous Campaign Against Citizens United," February 24, 2012
- ↑ The New York Times, "Who's Financing the 'Super PACs?" May 7, 2012
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "IRC 501(c)(4) Organizations," accessed July 10, 2014
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