The Center for Public Integrity reports that nonprofits, super PACs, and other non-candidate groups spent at least $209 million to influence elections in 38 states. Their analysis found that pro-Democratic organizations, many associated with and funded by unions, outspent their Republican counterparts by more than $8 million.
The analysis counters the conventional wisdom that non-party Republican groups like Koch Industries outspent Democratic groups. Labor unions, which have decried the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates of spending by so-called SuperPACs, led the way in spending.
“In January 2012, on the second anniversary of the Citizens United decision, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued a statement saying the case ‘seriously undermined our democracy,” said the CPI report.
“But unions were among the organizations that took best advantage of the deregulated environment in state-level races last year. Union-funded outside groups helped Democratic governors win close contests in Montana and Washington. And Democrats took control of the state house in Colorado and both chambers in Maine and Minnesota. In those states, Democratic candidates received significant help from outside groups funded largely by wealthy individuals and national unions,” added CPI’s report provided in advance to Secrets. It was released Thursday morning.
The well-researched and lengthy analysis includes several examples of state races where Democrats outspent Republicans, in part with significant union funding. One notable race was the recall election of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker who had challenged public employee unions.
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