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OpenSecrets is proud to participate in Democracy Day 2023 by platforming original stories in this week's newsletter that directly expose the threats that face our democracy at the state and federal levels.
The U.S. Democracy Day [[link removed]] collaborative launched as an effort to encourage news organizations across the country to report more — and better— information about the crisis facing democracy here. The collaborative coalesced around one common publishing/broadcasting date: Sept. 15, which is the International Day of Democracy [[link removed]] .
Hundreds of news organizations participate including dozens of nonprofit and independent outlets. Democracy Day is an effort to draw attention to this crisis, provide the public with the context and information they need, and bring all types of media together to sound the alarm collectively.
We seek to provide clear explanations of what’s happening (and what could happen), give practical information on what members of the public can do, and uncover new revelations related to anti-democratic efforts.
September 15, 2023
Billionaire megadonor couple funding election denial with extensive influence machine and dark money network
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Billionaire shipping supply magnates Richard “Dick” Uihlein and his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Uihlein have come to prominence in recent years as conservative megadonors, establishing a web of financial influence that connects them with a network of election denial activists, “dark money” groups, conservative super PACs and campaigns to undermine direct democracy in multiple states.
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Nearly $2 million in 'dark money' pours into historic Virginia campaigns
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Independent political groups backed largely by “dark money” organizations and wealthy donors have spent nearly $1.7 million on Virginia candidates this election cycle, raising concerns about transparency and the influence of outside money in the tightly contested battle for control of the General Assembly.
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More money, less transparency: A decade under Citizens United
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The proliferation of controversial political advertisements in the past decade isn't a coincidence. It's a direct result of the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling, which helped pump billions of dollars into politics from outside sources that are supposed to be untethered from candidates or political parties.
(This report comes from our 10-year anniversary article of the Supreme Court's infamous Citizens United ruling. In the three years since it's publishing, dark money has increased and become an even stronger force in American politics.)
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OpenSecrets' Chart of the Week
Dive deeper into the data behind the headlines
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The Uihleins have collectively given more than $250 million to federal candidates and political groups since the 2016 election cycle, according to a new OpenSecrets analysis. The bulk of those contributions — over $233 million — came from Richard Uihlein himself. They have given an additional $83.8 million to state and local candidates from the 2022 election cycle onward. The couple scaled up their political activity even more leading up to and during the 2022 elections, with $82 million in giving, making Richard the top conservative donor for the cycle, according to OpenSecrets’ analysis.
Richard Uihlein has funded initiatives spreading disproven conspiracy theories about voter fraud. Before the Uihleins emerged as major donors, Richard Uihlein had an established relationship with the Tea Party Patriots, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit co-founded by conservative activist and former congressional candidate Amy Kremer. Kremer was one of the organizers of the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. During the 2020 election cycle, Uihlein was the top donor to the Tea Party Patriots super PAC and has given the operation at least $4.29 million since the 2016 election.
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OpenSecrets in the News
See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:
Nancy Pelosi to Run for Re-Election (WSJ) [[link removed]]
Pelosi is a top fundraiser for the Democratic Party and has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump. During the 2022 election cycle, her victory fund, a joint fundraising committee for herself and other Democrats, raised about $36 million, according to OpenSecrets.
The GOP Turned Its Back on Science. So Science Turned Its Backs on the GOP (Politico) [[link removed]]
As Gallup found at the time, 35 percent of doctors considered themselves Democrats, compared to 27 percent who were Republicans. And according to an analysis from the OpenSecrets, in 2000, 63 percent of physicians’ federal campaign contributions went to Republicans. By 2022, the percentage level flipped in Democrats’ favor.
More Than $10 Billion Could Be Spent On 2024 Election Ads—Which Would Make It The Costliest Cycle Ever (Forbes) [[link removed]]
In 2020, $14.4 billion was spent on the presidential race between Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Senate and House races, according to the OpenSecrets. That more than doubled the spending from the 2016 election.
Los Angeles Times [[link removed]]
CNBC [[link removed]]
The Hill [[link removed]]
El Pais [[link removed]]
Raw Story [[link removed]]
Wisconsin State Journal [[link removed]]
Scripps News [[link removed]]
Golfweek [[link removed]]
MinnPost [[link removed]]
The Young Turks [[link removed]]
Ohio Capital Journal [[link removed]]
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