Also: FEC nominee Trey Trainor faces the Senate

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March 12th, 2020
This week in money-in-politics

Outside groups pour money into Biden support


Outside groups are pouring millions into backing former Vice President Joe Biden as he gains momentum with successive wins in the Democratic primaries.

Priorities USA Action, a hybrid PAC meant to aid the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, declared Biden as the likely nominee and is gearing up to run ads in his support.

“The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for President and Priorities USA is going to do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump in November. I hope others will join us in the fight,” Guy Cecil, chairman of the PAC tweeted Tuesday night.

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** Trump FEC pick offers mixed messages on donor disclosure
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Trey Trainor, President Donald Trump’s Republican nominee to the Federal Election Commission, tried to quell concerns from Democrats and some good government groups Tuesday that he would avoid enforcing campaign finance law if confirmed. During his nomination hearing, Trainor said he believes political donors should be disclosed despite his past support for secret election spending.
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** Legal industry, DOJ employees give more to Biden than Trump
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As President Donald Trump grapples with criticism from federal prosecutors nationwide, lawyers and law firms are donating heavily to Democratic candidates and liberal causes. Lawyers and law firms are still among Trump’s top 10 industries supporting his presidential run. So far for this cycle, the industry contributed close to $1.8 million to the president’s campaign committee and allied outside groups.
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** Steve Bullock faces GOP incumbent with multi-million dollar head start
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Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced Monday he will run for Senate, giving Democrats the candidate they needed to challenge Sen. Steve Daines. Bullock’s late entrance into the race boosts Democrats’ chances of taking the Senate. But he is launching his Senate bid late with virtually no campaign cash to pull from, and Republicans have been preparing for his entrance for some time.
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OpenSecrets to offer online classes on money in politics throughout coronavirus crisis

To assist faculty who will be teaching students online for the foreseeable future, the Center for Responsive Politics will offer 30-60 minute demonstrations via Zoom, Skype or GoToMeeting of OpenSecrets.org with a special emphasis on connecting money in politics data to issues related to campaign finance, lobbying, or political influence. We can customize these presentations to home in on a specific topic and will include time for questions from students if requested.

Topics which can be covered include:
* Campaign finance at the federal level
* Dark money, grey money and outside groups
* Lobbying by political interest groups from the U.S. and foreign countries
* Money in politics in the post-Citizen’s United era
* Political action committees and whether money can buy influence
* And more…

CRP’s staff will be leading these demonstrations, which will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis but can be scheduled between now and April 30. For more information, or to set up a class, contact [email protected].
Democrats spent over $1 billion on failed presidential bids


Two billionaires and two dozen hopefuls who dropped out of the Democratic primary combined to spend over $1 billion.

At this point in the 2008 and 2016 Democratic primaries, all candidates including those still in the race had spent just a fraction of that record-shattering figure. While the Democratic field spent millions on the primary, President Donald Trump built up a sizable war chest. The Republican National Committee and Trump’s team are reportedly aiming to raise $1 billion.

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OpenSecrets in the News

See where we've been cited by media outlets around the nation this week:

* ** Former Obama fundraising chief calls on over 700 bundlers to back Joe Biden’s surging campaign (CNBC) ([link removed])
The architect of President Barack Obama’s 2012 fundraising juggernaut has reached out to more than 700 bundlers in a bid to convince them to back Joe Biden’s candidacy.

* ** 5 things to know about FEC nominee Trey Trainor (The Fulcrum) ([link removed])
He's not much of a donor: According to OpenSecrets, James E. Trainor III of Driftwood, Texas, has only made one contribution to a federal campaign — a $1,000 check written a dozen years ago to Roger Williams.

* ** How Trump's business empire is cashing in on the 2020 campaign (The Guardian) ([link removed])
Watchdogs and public records reveal how Trump properties have raked in millions from PACs and Republican figures.

** Project on Government Oversight ([link removed])

** TIME ([link removed])

** CBS 10 Columbus ([link removed])

** Wisconsin Examiner ([link removed])

** The Madras Pioneer ([link removed])

** The Los Angeles Times ([link removed])

** WMUR ([link removed])

** Insider New Jersey ([link removed])

** The Daily Herald ([link removed])

** The College Fix ([link removed])
** Roll Call ([link removed])



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