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Satellite spending in gubernatorial elections, 2016
Interest groups unaffiliated with candidates or campaigns—such as political action committees, 501(c)(4)s, and 501(c)(6)s—often spend money in order to influence the outcome of an election. This satellite spending can take the form of express advocacy, which encourages votes for or against a candidate, or issue advocacy, which supports a particular election outcome without explicit requests to vote "for" or "against" a candidate. Satellite spending may also be used for voter communication efforts and to encourage political engagement.
Due to widely differing contribution regulations and disclosure requirements, it is difficult or impossible to present a comprehensive picture of all satellite spending in a given election.
For example, 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits are not always required to disclose their donors to the government. These types of nonprofits submit financial information to the federal government through regular tax filings with the Internal Revenue Service, which are only publicly available through a Freedom of Information Act request. Other organizations are required to report election expenditures to a state elections division, the same way candidates file campaign finance reports. Regulations for such disclosure vary widely from state to state.
The following are known instances of satellite spending in 2016 gubernatorial elections across the country. These instances are added as Ballotpedia writers come across reported information. Know of any satellite spending not listed below? Tell us!
Satellite spending by state
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2016
Missouri
Known satellite spending in the 2016 election
| Known satellite spending; Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Organization | Amount spent | Type of spending |
| LG PAC | $1,000,000 | Ads against Republican John Brunner |
| Democratic Governors Association | $671,000 | Ads against Eric Greitens (R) |
| Total known expenditures: | $1,671,000 | |
| Note: All figures are estimates. Know of any other instances of satellite spending? Tell us! | ||
Montana
- See also:Montana gubernatorial election, 2016
| Known outside spending; Montana gubernatorial election, 2016[1] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Organization | Amount spent | Type of spending |
| Republican Governors Association | Unknown | Ads against Steve Bullock (D) |
| Total known expenditures: | $0 | |
| Note: All figures are estimates. Know of any other instances of satellite spending? Tell us! | ||
North Carolina
Known satellite spending in the 2016 election
| Known satellite spending; North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2016[2] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Organization | Amount spent | Type of spending |
| Republican Governors Association | $1,000,000 | Ads against Roy Cooper (D) |
| American Bridge 21st Century | $ | Social media campaign against Pat McCrory (R) |
| North Carolina Environmental Partnership | $1,600,000 | Ads against Pat McCrory (R) |
| Democratic Governors Association funding North Carolina Families First | $558,000 | Television ads |
| North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network | $160,000 | Television ads |
| Institute for Faith and Family | $9,000 | Television ads |
| North Carolina Association of Educators | $328,000 | Television ads |
| Renew North Carolina Foundation | $125,000 | Television ads |
| Americans for Prosperity | $150,000 | Television ads |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | $62,000 | Television ads |
| Real Jobs NC | $61,000 | Television ads |
| National Resource Defense Council | $54,000 | Television ads |
| A Better N.C. | $460,000 | Ads against Pat McCrory |
| Conservation Votes PAC | $386,000 | Canvassing in support of Roy Cooper |
| Planned Parenthood Action PAC N.C. | $135,000 | Canvassing |
| Total known expenditures: | $5,088,000 | |
| Note: All figures are estimates. Know of any other instances of satellite spending? Tell us! | ||
Vermont
- See also:Vermont gubernatorial election, 2016
| Vermont gubernatorial election outside spending, 2016[3] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Election | Amount spent | Type of spending |
| Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn | $222,000 | Ads supporting Matt Dunne (D) |
| Vermonters for Strong Leadership | $120,000 | Ads supporting Sue Minter (D) |
| EMILY's List | $72,000 | Ads supporting Sue Minter (D) |
| American Future Fund Political Action Committee | $27,000 | Ads against Phil Scott (R) |
| Total known expenditures: | $441,000 | |
| Note: All figures are estimates. Know of any other instances of satellite spending? Tell us! | ||
West Virginia
| Known outside spending; West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Organization | Amount spent | Type of spending |
| Republican Governors Association | $500,000 | Ads against Jim Justice (D) |
| Republican Governors Association | $600,000 | Ads against Jim Justice (D) |
| Total known expenditures: | $1,100,000 | |
| Note: All figures are estimates. Know of any other instances of satellite spending? Tell us! | ||
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Bozeman Daily Chronicle, "RGA attack ads as GOP state lawmakers plan ban on state plane use," April 22, 2016
- ↑ Center for Public Integrity, "Outside groups dominate TV ads about North Carolina governor's race," June 27, 2016
- ↑ Seven Days, "Silicon Valley Billionaire Makes Six-Figure Ad Buy for Dunne," August 4, 2016
