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August 8, 2020
This week in money-in-politics
 
Justice Democrats secure another victory with Cori Bush, unseating a dynasty
 
 

Missouri’s 1st District has been represented by a member of the Clay family for more than fifty years. But Tuesday night, progressive candidate Cori Bush won her primary against Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), marking another massive victory for a Justice Democrats-backed candidate this cycle.

The victory follows Bush’s unsuccessful primary challenge to Clay in 2018, which saw her lose by a 20-point margin. Yet this cycle, Bush ran a more formidable race, raising three times the money she did last cycle and seeing a six-figure boost from progressive outside groups. Bush also received the endorsements of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and newcomer Jamaal Bowman, whose July primary victory against longtime Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) similarly shook the confidence of establishment Democrats.

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Political campaigns are staying home amid the coronavirus pandemic


Political campaigns are staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic that shows no sign of slowing down. Presidential and congressional candidates are spending far less on travel and event expenses than in previous election cycles, instead investing heavily in online campaign infrastructure to reach voters and donors. That shift is particularly evident in the presidential race.
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Small donors flock to Republicans challenging high-profile Democrats
 

Nothing motivates donors like dislike. At least that’s the hope of Republican candidates running longshot campaigns to replace high-profile Democrats in deep-blue districts, many of whom are fueling their bids with small-dollar donations from Republicans across the country. Among the Republican House candidates who received more than 60% of their funds from small donors, half are running against high-profile Democrats.
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Big money pours into Republican primary for Senate in Tennessee


In the Tennessee Republican Senate primary, wealthy donors — and the candidates themselves — are pouring millions into the crowded contest that has largely turned into a two-person race. The winner of the Aug. 6 primary will run to replace retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and will most likely cruise to victory in the general election. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as “solid R.”
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Spotlight on the NRA's Political Giving
 
 

This week, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office has filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association to "dissolve the organization in its entirety."

Over the years, the NRA has been one of the biggest spenders among politically active nonprofits. In 
the 2016 cycle, the group spent over $54 million dollars supporting Republican candidates at the federal level, with over $30 million of that focused on the race for The White House.

The following years, however, have seen the organization's influence shrink dramatically.
Turmoil amid the group's leadership and multiple years of spending deficits have greatly weakened their ability to spend
. Spending by the NRA has yet to crack $1 million in the 2020 cycle. 

OpenSecrets in the News

See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:  

  • Club for Growth launches anti-Biden ad blitz (Politico)
    The conservative Club for Growth is running a new slate of ads in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that hit Joe Biden over his opposition to school choice. The group is reportedly spending $5 million on the campaign.

McClatchy DC
Bloomberg
CNBC
The Billings Gazette
The Houston Chronicle
The Seattle Times
New Mexico Political Report
ABC 7 KVIA - El Paso
The State
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Agri-Pulse
Financial Times
Mother Jones

 

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