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Democratic presidential election super PACs, 2016

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Super PACs
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Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia.

This article is about super PAC activity surrounding the 2016 Democratic presidential campaigns.

Here, Ballotpedia chronicled notable expenditures of super PACs that supported or opposed those candidates’ campaigns.

See also: Republican presidential election super PACs, 2016

Hillary Clinton

See also: Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016

Pro-Clinton activity

  • CNN reported on October 10, 2016, that Priorities USA was considering airing ads for down-ballot Senate candidates in North Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. [1]
  • On October 12, 2016, Politico reported that Priorities USA stopped running ads in the battleground state of Colorado in the final weeks leading up to election day on November 8. The decision to stop running ads was, according to Politico, a reflection of the confidence the super PAC has that Clinton would remain the frontrunner in that state.[2]
  • The Associated Press reported on September 15 that Priorities USA Action, between September and Election Day, planned to spend $119 million on TV and radio ads.[3]
  • Politico reported on August 23, 2016, that Priorities USA Action, the main pro-Clinton super PAC, and the Clinton campaign had released a combined total of 110,000 ads since Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee.[4]
  • CBS News reported on August 16, 2016, that Priorities suspended ads in Pennsylvania, in addition to its previously added states to a list of battleground states that the super PAC slowed ad activity in, including Colorado and Virginia.[5]
  • Politico reported on August 3, 2016, that Priorities USA Action decided to delay airing ads in Colorado for two weeks, noting that this was a reflection of the "Democrats' growing confidence in the battleground state."[6] On the following day, August 4, 2016, Priorities announced that it was pausing ads in Virginia. Politico stated that the super PAC's new ad buys included Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, where ads were aired through Labor Day.[7]
  • On August 2, 2016, NBC News reported that Hillary Clinton and Priorities USA Action had planned to spend, collectively, $97 million more on TV ads than Donald Trump and the pro-Trump super PAC, Rebuilding America Now. According to NBC, “Clinton's campaign and pro-Clinton group Priorities USA Action have reserved a combined $98 million through the fall so far, while pro-Trump PAC Rebuilding America Now has just about $817,000 set to air at this time. Through last week, Team Clinton had aired a total of $68 million in ads, while Team Trump had spent roughly $6 million - mostly from Rebuilding America Now and the NRA Political Victory Fund.”[8]
  • In an interview by Politico on July 29, 2016, Guy Cecil, strategist for Priorities USA Action, highlighted the super PAC's turnout strategy, stating that the group would spend $10 million to "make sure we are doing everything we can to turn folks out."[9] Cecil said that the super PAC would balance its focus between Democratic voters and undecided voters. The campaign included an "expanded buy in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania focused on African Americans. We’re going to be launching Spanish-language advertising in Miami, Tampa and Orlando."[9] The group also registered voters, spending $2 million to aid a "a coalition of Hispanic groups that are doing work in Colorado, Nevada and Florida."[9]
  • On June 29, Politico reported that Priorities USA Action added North Carolina to its list of swing states and would begin ad campaigns in the state.[10]
  • On June 24, The New York Times reported that Priorities USA had purchased $10.5 million of airtime in the Philadelphia, Scranton, and Pittsburgh markets from July 5 through to the election.[11]
  • In May 2016, Politico reported that Univision chairman, Haim Saban, contributed $3 million to Priorities USA Action in April. Alex Soros, son of George Soros, also contributed $1 million, bringing April's contributions to $8.6 million. The super PAC spent $6.6 million in April and $11.6 million in March 2016. It still had $46.7 million on hand at the end of April.[12]
  • Priorities USA Action, according to CNN, reserved a total of $125 million in television and digital ad buys, which began after California's June 8, 2016, primary.[13]
  • As part of Priorities USA Action's strategy for the upcoming months, The Washington Post reported on April 18, 2016, that the super PAC reserved $35 million for online ads targeting millennials, Hispanics, African Americans, and women in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Virginia.[14]
  • It was reported on April 21, 2016, that Correct the Record planned to spend $1 million on engaging social media posts opposing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The project was entitled Barrier Breakers 2016.[15]
  • The New York Times reported on March 22, 2016, that Priorities USA Action reserved $70 million for television ads after the Democratic National Convention. The super PAC planned to focus their activity in Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Virginia.[16]
  • According to Fortune magazine, Priorities USA Action spent $4.5 million in March 2016, in support of Clinton. The super PAC spent the money on radio and television ads focusing on generating voter turnout.[17]
  • On February 29, 2016, The New York Times reported that Priorities USA Action and EMILY's List had partnered and released a series of new digital ads supporting Clinton. The first installment was $500,000 and targeted Texas, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. The ads focused on Clintons record concerning issues related to women voters.[18]
  • In February 2016, Priorities USA Action spent $1.3 million on radio ads in South Carolina as well as digital ads and direct mail in advance of Democratic contests in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The ads supported Clinton and opposed Republican candidates.[19]
  • In mid-February 2016, the super PAC announced that it would spend $5 million, contrary to earlier plans to withhold spending until the general election.[20] About $4.5 million was designated for voter outreach in Georgia and Illinois.[21]
  • According to Politico, Priorities, in January 2016, paid six-figures for ad space to respond to accusations made by Karl Rove's American Crossroads in an ad. The Crossroads ad, which aired in Iowa, charged that Clinton was an ally of Wall Street.[22]
  • In August 2015, Priorities USA Action teamed up with Correct the Record to solicit contributions jointly. According to The Washington Post, Correct the Record, a Carey Committee, was coordinating directly with Clinton's campaign.[23]
  • In June 2015, Priorities USA Action had made a $150,000 contribution to Ready PAC, a pro-Clinton hybrid PAC, according to FEC documents.[24]

Anti-Clinton activity

  • On September 22, Politico reported that the anti-Clinton super PAC Reform America Fund spent $332,000 in Wisconsin.[25]
  • Politico reported on August 8, 2016, that the pro-Donald Trump super PAC Rebuilding America Now released an ad entitled "Dead Broke." The ad opposed the Clinton Foundation and the sources of its contributions, saying, "It didn’t last long. A foundation was created and money started to roll. Speeches, connections and donations. Misogynist regimes, Wall Street insiders, corrupt dictators. They all had one thing in common. Their check cleared."[26]
  • On June 21, 2016, the super PAC formerly known as Keep the Promise I, released a digital ad under their new name, Make America Number 1, that questioned the Clinton family's source of income.[27]
  • In June 2016, Rebuilding America Now, a super PAC supporting Donald Trump, released an ad suggesting that Hillary Clinton was not committed to women’s issues because of her response to allegations that her husband sexually assaulted women.[28]
  • According to ABC News, pro-Donald Trump super PAC Rebuilding America Now released an ad in June 2016 opposing Clinton and drawing ties between Clinton's email investigation and Bill Clinton's involvement with Monica Lewinsky during his presidency. The ad was entitled "Hillary Clinton: More of the Same."[29]
  • As of March 14, 2016, American Crossroads, had spent $125,000 in anti-Clinton ads.[30]
  • In an article published on March 24, 2016, the AP noted that one in every 33 presidential ads to that point opposed Hillary Clinton. Most of the ads came from Republican groups.[31]
  • In late February 2016, the super PAC Future 45, began airing an anti-Hillary ad that promoted Clinton's Democratic opponent, Bernie Sanders. The ad focused on paid speeches Clinton had given to Wall Street banks.[32]
  • In October 2015, Stop Hillary PAC released an anti-Clinton ad showing the faces of the Americans who had died in Benghazi with a voiceover saying, "Dear Hillary Clinton, I’d like to ask you why you ignored calls for help in Benghazi and then four Americans were murdered."[33] The ad aired during the Democratic presidential debate on October 13, 2015.[33] The group was active in airing ads portraying Clinton in the context of the the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya.[34]

Suspended candidates

Bernie Sanders

See also: Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016

Pro-Sanders activity

  • In May 2016, the Sacramento Bee reported that the National Nurses United for Patient Protection super PAC spent $268,000 in California in support of Sanders ahead of the state's June primary.[35]
  • According to TIME magazine, a pro-Sanders super PAC emerged in Anchorage, Alaska. The group was made up of former Sanders staffers. The super PAC ran a ground operation, including canvassing and handing out buttons, in support of Sanders before the state's primaries.[36]
  • In February 2016, NPR reported that National Nurses United for Patient Protection super PAC spent $1.7 million on promoting Sanders.[19]
  • The National Nurses United for Patient Protection super PAC raised $2,349,523 in contributions in 2015 and nearly $1.4 million in expenditures. Of the $1.4 million, almost a million went to supporting Sanders' bid for office, which includes $400,000 to unlimited-spending groups supporting Sanders, Progressive Kick ($245,000) and Reclaim Chicago ($150,000).[37][38][39][40]

Anti-Sanders activity

  • Correct the Record released an online ad opposing Sanders on April 1, 2016. The ad likened Sanders to former Vice President Dick Cheney and National Rifle Association President Wayne LaPierre.[41]
  • The Republican super PAC Future 45 began airing an anti-Sanders ad in February 2016, questioning Sanders' policies on raising the minimum wage and funding free tuition and health care.[42]
  • In late January 2016, anti-Sanders super PAC ESA Fund aired an ad against Sanders pointing to his stances on college tuition, Medicare, and tax policy.[43]

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Super PAC 'Hillary Clinton' OR 'Bernie Sanders. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

+"Hillary+Clinton"+OR+"Bernie+Sanders&um=1&ie=UTF-8 Democratic presidential election super PACs, 2016 - Google News

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ CNN, "First on CNN: Clinton super PAC considers expanding to Senate races," October 10,2016
  2. ↑ Politico, "Clinton-backing super PAC signals confidence in Colorado," October 12, 2016
  3. ↑ AP, "Super PAC tries to plug holes in Trump's ground campaign," September 15, 2016
  4. ↑ Politico, "Hillary Clinton’s historic free pass on the airwaves," August 23, 2016
  5. ↑ CBS News, "Hillary Clinton super PAC suspends spending in three key states," August 16, 2016
  6. ↑ Politico, "Clinton super PAC scales back Colorado ad buy," August 3, 2016
  7. ↑ Politico, "Clinton pauses ads in Virginia in sign of confidence," August 4, 2016
  8. ↑ NBC News, "Clinton, Allies Have Reserved $98 Million in Ads," August 2, 2016
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Politico, "Playbook," July 29, 2016
  10. ↑ Politico, "Clinton reshuffles the swing state deck," June 29, 2016
  11. ↑ The New York Times, "PAC Backing Hillary Clinton to Run $10.5 Million in Ads in Pennsylvania," June 24, 2016
  12. ↑ Politico, "Clinton super PAC expanded war chest with $3 million from Sabans," May 20, 2016
  13. ↑ CNN, "First on CNN: Pro-Clinton super PAC announces March fundraising haul," April 20, 2016
  14. ↑ The Washington Post, "Hillary Clinton’s super PAC planning multimillion-dollar online ad buy," April 18, 2016
  15. ↑ The Daily Beast, "Hillary PAC Spends $1 Million to ‘Correct’ Commenters on Reddit and Facebook," April 21, 2016
  16. ↑ The New York Times, "Hillary Clinton’s Backers Prepare General Election Ad Blitz," March 22, 2016
  17. ↑ Fortune, "Pro-Clinton Super PAC Plans to Spend Millions in March Primaries," March 9, 2016
  18. ↑ The New York Times, "Digital Ads for Hillary Clinton Focus on Young Women and Equal Pay," February 29, 2016
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 NPR, "With Democratic Primary Fight Closer, Pro-Clinton SuperPAC Amps It Up," February 18, 2016
  20. ↑ The Washington Post, "Super PAC moves to ramp up financial firepower for Clinton," February 12, 2016
  21. ↑ Politico, "Pro-Clinton super PAC cracks open its war chest," February 12, 2016
  22. ↑ Politico, "Clinton super PAC answers Rove ad," January 19, 2016
  23. ↑ The Washington Post, "Pro-Clinton super PAC Priorities USA Action continues steady fundraising pace in July," August 1, 2015
  24. ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Ready PAC (Mid Year, 2015)," accessed January 21, 2016
  25. ↑ Politico, "Trump's bizarre ad strategy," September 22, 2016
  26. ↑ Politico, "Playbook," August 8, 2016
  27. ↑ YouTube, "Gotta Pay the Bills," June 21, 2016
  28. ↑ The New York Times, "Ad From Trump Ally, Citing ’90s Scandals, Depicts Hillary Clinton as Anti-Woman," June 23, 2016
  29. ↑ ABC News, "New Pro-Donald Trump SuperPAC Out With Attack Ad Hitting Hillary Clinton," June 5, 2016
  30. ↑ Politico, "Karl Rove-backed PAC warms to Trump," March 14, 2016
  31. ↑ Associated Press, "Republican ads attacking Trump even more than Clinton," March 24, 2016
  32. ↑ CNN, "Conservative super PAC to air ad hitting Clinton on paid speech transcripts," February 26, 2016
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 National Review, "Stop Hillary Pac’s Debate Ad: ‘I’d Like To Ask...’," October 14, 2015
  34. ↑ The Washington Post, "Anti-Hillary Clinton PAC launches ad campaign to coincide with Benghazi hearing," September 17, 2014
  35. ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Bernie Sanders gets help from California nurses’ union super PAC," May 23, 2016
  36. ↑ TIME, "Bernie Sanders Gets an Alaska ‘Super PAC’ Aimed At Millennials," March 16, 2016
  37. ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, National Nurses United for Patient Protection (Year End, 2015)," accessed February 8, 2016
  38. ↑ Politico, "Pro-Sanders super PAC brought in $2.3 million," January 31, 2016
  39. ↑ New York Times, "Bernie Sanders Tops His Rivals in Use of Outside Money," January 28, 2016
  40. ↑ Huffington Post, "Bernie Sanders Has His Own Shadowy Donors -- And They're Nurses," February 4, 2016
  41. ↑ The Washington Post, "Super PAC ad compares Sanders to Cheney | Campaign 2016," April 1, 2016
  42. ↑ Politico, "Sanders attacked by super PAC funded by Republican billionaires," February 18, 2016
  43. ↑ Huffington Post, "The New Anti-Sanders Super PAC Is Funded By Anti-Clinton Donors," January 31, 2016
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