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Untitled. Stacey Abrams, the Georgia Democrat and founder of voting rights organization Fair Fight Action, announced Wednesday she will run for Georgia governor in 2022, setting up a potential rematch against incumbent Republican Gov.

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Brian Kemp. Abrams brings an exceptional ability to fundraise from donors across the country, after building an extensive campaign finance machine since her failed bid for governor in 2018. The Dark Money Influencing Senator Manchin’s Right-Wing Agenda. New reporting by CNBC has found that the advocacy arm of Charles Koch’s network has been pressuring Sen.

The Dark Money Influencing Senator Manchin’s Right-Wing Agenda

Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) to oppose key Democratic priorities like voting rights and labor provisions. Missouri's Amendment 1 one of a number of ethics measures funded by a Texas couple. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.

Missouri's Amendment 1 one of a number of ethics measures funded by a Texas couple

The Postcard Always Rings Twice - This American Life. Six Political Ads That Changed the Game. Four hundred and thirty million dollars.

Six Political Ads That Changed the Game

That's the amount of money that has already been spent on TV advertising for the general election, according to tracking data form SMG Delta and NBC News. And there's still four months to go before Election Day. Given the sheer volume of ads that will consume the nation's video screens between now and November, it will be challenging for individual campaign messages to break through. But history shows us that some ads can stand out and capture voters' attention. In some cases, those memorable spots can even have the power to influence the outcome of an election.

Our new video series, produced by Retro Report, examines six iconic or cutting edge political ads from presidential campaign history with the political pros who produced them. Daisy Perhaps the most famous political ad of all time, this early television spot ran on air just once but generated enough media coverage to become a real factor in the 1964 presidential election. Morning In America. How Chicago's White Donor Class Distorts City Policy. Chicago’s 2015 mayoral race was one of the most expensive in the nation’s history, with big donors playing an outsized role in financing both candidates’ campaigns.

How Chicago's White Donor Class Distorts City Policy

In fact, over 90 percent of the money raised by the two major candidates came from donors giving more than $1,000, and more than half (52%) came from donors outside of the city.[1] Both the Chicago mayoral and council elections are primarily financed by white, male donors who don’t reflect the racial and class diversity of the city’s residents.

Governor candidate Greitens' oddly national funding base may hint at bigger goals. Why would scores of business tycoons from Manhattan to Silicon Valley lavish contributions of $50,000 or $100,000 or even $500,000 on a political novice running in a primary election for governor of a Midwestern state where none of them live?

Governor candidate Greitens' oddly national funding base may hint at bigger goals

One clue might rest in the Web address “EricGreitensForPresident.com.” Eric Greitens reserved it himself. Seven years ago. Greitens, a Rhodes scholar and former Navy SEAL, is known for bringing high ambition to everything he’s done in his varied career. New Thinking on Rescuing Our Politics from Plutocrats - BillMoyers.com. New Thinking on Rescuing Our Politics from Plutocrats - BillMoyers.com. 1/6/16 Clips - Jeb hits $50M in ad spending, Michael Bolton for Hillary, Trump's data juggernaut. Campaign Finance Regulators Won't Do Their Job. Can a Lawsuit Force Their Hand? It's a case that has haunted campaign finance watchdogs for years.

Campaign Finance Regulators Won't Do Their Job. Can a Lawsuit Force Their Hand?

The Commission on Hope, Growth, and Opportunity (CHGO) emerged in early 2010 as a nonprofit that would not engage in political work. Then, in the six weeks before the 2010 elections, the group spent about $4 million on political ads across 15 congressional races, all attacking Democrats. Obama Could Help Fix Our Broken Democracy. But He Hasn't. - BillMoyers.com. Obama Could Help Fix Our Broken [...]

Obama Could Help Fix Our Broken Democracy. But He Hasn't. - BillMoyers.com

(Photo by Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images) In the tale of the rapid influx of campaign money into our political system over the last five years, the Republican establishment often gets cast as the villain. It was, after all, Chief Justice John Roberts and his ideological allies on the court who were responsible for the 2010 Citizens United decision that rolled back caps on how much special-interest groups could spend in elections. And this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushing for a rider on the year-end spending bill that would raise caps on party spending in elections, an effort that Democrats, reform groups and the GOP’s right-wing Freedom Caucus oppose. President Obama, meanwhile, has talked a lot about the need for campaign finance reform. Take, for instance, the Federal Election Commission. Report: Planned Parenthood Affiliates Break Tax Rules to Fund Democrats. According to the liberal group Open Secrets’ Center for Responsive Politics, three of the affiliates allocated more than the 50 percent of their total spending that is allowed by the IRS and the U.S.

Report: Planned Parenthood Affiliates Break Tax Rules to Fund Democrats

Treasury Department to influence elections during portions of the five-year period. The Families Funding the 2016 Presidential Election. By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE, SARAH COHEN and KAREN YOURISH They are overwhelmingly white, rich, older and male, in a nation that is being remade by the young, by women, and by black and brown voters. Across a sprawling country, they reside in an archipelago of wealth, exclusive neighborhoods dotting a handful of cities and towns. And in an economy that has minted billionaires in a dizzying array of industries, most made their fortunes in just two: finance and energy. Now they are deploying their vast wealth in the political arena, providing almost half of all the seed money raised to support Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. Just 158 families, along with companies they own or control, contributed $176 million in the first phase of the campaign, a New York Times investigation found.

Mizzou to pay $10,000 a month to Andy Blunt to lobby in Jefferson City. Colbert and his Colbert Super PAC. Unlimited cash, lavish meals, revolving doors: How Missouri got a D-minus in national ethics report. From Fracking to Finance, a Torrent of Campaign Cash. A look at some of the business, personal and ideological ties that bind megadonors in the 2016 presidential campaign.

From Fracking to Finance, a Torrent of Campaign Cash

The Families Funding the 2016 Presidential Election. Big Donors Seek Larger Roles in Presidential Campaigns. Before the first Republican presidential debate in August, Julian H. Gingold coached Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin on Chinese currency manipulation and the nuances of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Gingold, who worked on trade issues for President Ronald Reagan, even provided a television-ready zinger that could be deployed against Donald J. Missouri legislators serve hors d'oeuvres, lobbyists pass the envelopes. Missouri legislators serve hors d'oeuvres, lobbyists pass the envelopes. How Google Could Rig the 2016 Election - Robert Epstein.

Google could 'rig the 2016 election,' researcher says - Aug. 20, 2015. OpenSecrets.org Newsletter: 2016 pres. hopefuls get super PAC support from super wealthy, and more ...