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Conservative Solutions PAC
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| Conservative Solutions PAC | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Tampa, Fla. |
| Type: | Super PAC |
| Founder(s): | Mary K. Baham |
| Year founded: | 2013 |
| Website: | Official website |
Conservative Solutions PAC is a super PAC that was founded in 2013 and supported Marco Rubio's (R) 2016 presidential campaign. During the 2016 election, the super PAC was managed by J. Warren Tompkins and was based out of Tampa, Fla.
The super PAC was also affiliated with a 501(c)(4) organization, Conservative Solutions Project, which, in addition to raising money to support Rubio, generated an in-depth demographic research report.[1]
Background
Originally established in February 2013 by Mary K. Baham of Columbia, S.C., the super PAC Conservative Solutions PAC was re-organized, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, in February 2015 by Nancy H. Watkins of Tampa, Fla.[2][3]
During the 2016 election, the super PAC was managed by Republican political strategist and advisor J. Warren Tompkins. Jon Lerner, a veteran pollster and political ad maker, was the super PAC's media consultant and pollster, while Jeff Sadosky, formerly of Sen. John McCain's (R) 2008 presidential campaign, acted as an advisor and director of communications. Jonathan Graham led the fundraising aspect of the super PAC.[4][5]
Work
In September 2015, The Washington Post reported that Conservative Solutions PAC had set aside over $10 million for ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.[6]
Finances
2016
According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, Conservative Solutions PAC reported $30,114,318 in total receipts and $43,851,899 in total disbursements during calendar year 2016.[7]
2015
According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, Conservative Solutions PAC reported $30,449,901 in total receipts and $16,516,734 in total disbursements during calendar year 2015.[8]
2014
According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, Conservative Solutions PAC reported $200 in total receipts and $725 in total disbursements during calendar year 2014.[9]
2013
According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, Conservative Solutions PAC reported $10,100 in total receipts and $9,488 in total disbursements during calendar year 2013.[10]
Affiliated programs
Conservative Solutions Project
In January 2014, a 501(c)(4) was incorporated in Delaware by J. Warren Tompkins.[11][1] The nonprofit, according to Politico, raised nearly $16 million in 2014 and 2015, a large portion of which was raised to fund pro-Rubio ads.[11]
When asked about the relationship between the super PAC and the nonprofit in April 2015, Jeff Sadosky, director of communications for the super PAC, responded, "Absolutely, the two groups are related. But they are separate and distinct entities. One is focused on supporting Marco Rubio’s potential presidential campaign, and one is focused on issue education."[1]
The project yielded a 280-page demographic study focused on Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and Florida.[12] National Journal reporter Scott Bland noted, "Political data this detailed is often expensive to produce, and closely guarded. But nonprofits and other outside groups are not allowed to coordinate with campaigns, and by posting the research publicly, the group has made its findings available free of charge to Rubio or anyone else who might want to use it."[1]
In October 2015, The Associated Press reported that all pro-Rubio television ads in the "early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina" had been paid for by the Conservative Solutions Project, which also sent "Rubio-boosting mail to voters in those same states."[13]
Legal status
| Super PACs |
|---|
 |
| Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia. |
Conservative Solutions 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]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Conservative Solutions PAC. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- J. Warren Tompkins
- Super PAC
- Marco Rubio
- Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016
- Republican presidential election super PACs, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 National Journal, "Secret-Money Group Tied to Marco Rubio Super PAC Has Been Researching Presidential Primary Voters," April 10, 2015
- ↑ FEC, "CSPac Statement of Organization (2013)," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ FEC, "Conservative Solutions PAC Statement of Organization (2015)," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ Conservative Solutions PAC, "About," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Marco Rubio gets a super PAC," April 9, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "A wave of 2016 ads is about to hit the airwaves. But do they work anymore?" September 11, 2015
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Conservative Solutions PAC Year-End Report, 2016," January 30, 2017
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Conservative Solutions PAC Year-End Report, 2015," January 31, 2016
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Conservative Solutions PAC Year-End Report, 2014," January 30, 2015
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Conservative Solutions PAC Year-End Report, 2013," January 30, 2014
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Politico, "Rubio nonprofit rakes in $16 million," July 6, 2015
- ↑ Ballotpedia, "The American Electorate," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Rubio's presidential bid boosted by secret-money commercials," October 8, 2015
- ↑ 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
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