Millions of dollars pouring into NC elections. Your guide to the groups behind the ads
Outside groups have flooded the airwaves in North Carolina with tens of millions of dollars in political ads ahead of the midterms, especially in the last two months leading up to Election Day.
The costliest race, by far, has been the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd, where political action committees and other groups have spent more than $64 million on ads since the beginning of September, according to Federal Election Commission filings. During that same time period, outside groups have spent more than $6.6 million on ads in the tossup U.S. House race between Democrat Wiley Nickel and Republican Bo Hines in the outskirts of the Triangle.
The bulk of this money has funded TV, digital, and radio ads, but other forms of advertising have included mailers, text messaging, emails, and billboards.
With Election Day right around the corner, The News & Observer reviewed FEC filings to break down which PACs and other outside groups have been the biggest spenders in North Carolina this cycle. The spending totals listed below are between May 18, the day after North Carolina’s primary election, and Nov. 2.
US Senate
The battle between Beasley and Budd to replace retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr has seen the most spending by outside groups, for the simple reason that the outcome in this race could have major implications for the balance of power in the Senate, which is currently evenly split between both parties.
Democrats control the chamber because of Vice President Kamala Harris’s tie-breaking vote. There are multiple Senate seats up for grabs, but each race counts, and both parties are eager to win the race in North Carolina.
Since the end of the primary, outside groups have spent around $78 million on the Senate race. FEC records show that groups affiliated with Republicans have massively outspent groups affiliated with Democrats.
Senate Leadership Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky
Candidates: Opposing Beasley
Amount: $37.9 million in TV, digital and radio ads, mailers, and others
Senate Majority PAC
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York
Candidates: Supporting Beasley, opposing Budd
Amount: $11.3 million in TV and digital ads
Americans for Prosperity Action
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd, opposing Beasley
Amount: $8.7 million in ads and mailers
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Type: Party Committee
Candidates: Opposing Beasley
Amount: $4.9 million in TV ads
Women Vote!
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: EMILY’s List
Candidates: Supporting Beasley, opposing Budd
Amount: $3.9 million in TV and radio ads
Opportunity Matters Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $1.5 million in TV and digital ads
Committee to Defeat the President
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd, opposing Beasley
Amount: $1.1 million in digital ads and voter outreach (phone and texting)
Truth and Justice Fund Company
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Budd
Amount: $1 million in TV and digital ads
The Sentinel Action Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Heritage Action
Candidates: Opposing Beasley
Amount: $993,000 in TV ads
Club For Growth Action
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Club For Growth
Candidates: Supporting Budd, opposing Beasley
Amount: $752,000 in TV and digital ads
LCV Victory Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: League of Conservation Voters
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $500,000 in radio ads
End Citizens United
Type: PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley, opposing Budd
Amount: $396,000 in digital ads, mailers, and voter outreach (texting)
Working America
Type: Independent Expenditure Filer
Candidates: Supporting Beasley, opposing Budd
Amount: $341,000
Our American Century
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Beasley
Amount: $318,000 in ads
National Nurses United for Patient Protection
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: National Nurses United
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $268,000 in mailers and voter outreach (phone and texting)
Bitcoin Freedom PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Beasley
Amount: $248,000 in digital ads
MoveOn.org Political Action
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Opposing Budd
Amount: $158,000 in digital ads
Senate Conservatives Fund
Type: PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $128,000 in mailers and voter outreach (email and texting)
Human Rights Campaign Equality Votes
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Human Rights Campaign
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $125,000 in digital ads
Restore Common Sense
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Beasley
Amount: $125,000 in digital ads
Women Speak Out PAC
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
Candidates: Supporting Budd, opposing Beasley
Amount: $120,000 in mailers and door hangers
The Lincoln Project
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Opposing Budd
Amount: $118,000 in digital ads
Americans for Constitutional Liberty
Type: Independent Expenditure Filer
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $106,000 in ads and mailers
Just The Truth PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $98,000 in ads
SEIU Committee on Political Education
Type: Labor Organization PAC
Aligned with: Service Employees International Union
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $93,000 in digital ads and postcards
U.S. Concealed Carry Association for Saving Lives
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $92,000
Black Americans Making America First
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $91,000 in radio ads
Care In Action PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $74,000 in digital and radio ads, social media
Poder NC Action
Type: Independent Expenditure Filer
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $40,000 in mailers
MomsRising Together
Type: Independent Expenditure Filer
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $40,000 in digital ads and mailers
NFIB Federal PAC
Type: Membership Organization PAC
Aligned with: National Federation of Independent Business
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $36,000 in digital and radio ads
Planned Parenthood Votes
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Planned Parenthood
Candidates: Supporting Beasley, opposing Budd
Amount: $36,000 in digital ads, voter outreach
Tzedek PAC
Type: Hybrid PAC
Aligned with: Tzedek Association
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $36,000 in digital ads
Red Senate
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd, opposing Beasley
Amount: $33,000 in digital and video ads, and billboards
MeidasTouch
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley, opposing Budd
Amount: $27,000 in billboards
Grassroots Action Fund
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Budd
Amount: $25,000 in digital ads and voter outreach (email and texting)
Color Of Change PAC
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $24,000 in digital ads and voter outreach
JDCA PAC
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Jewish Democratic Council of America
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $18,000 in digital ads
The People’s Campaign
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $9,000 in ads
Priorities USA Action
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Supporting Beasley
Amount: $9,000 in ads
US House, 1st District
In this Eastern North Carolina congressional district, Democratic-aligned groups, including the party’s official House campaign arm and a PAC affiliated with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have dominated spending on ads against Republican candidate Sandy Smith, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
In total, outside groups have spent $4.1 million on ads in this race since the end of the primary.
Smith is running against Democratic state Sen. Don Davis, who is aiming to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, and keep the seat in Democratic hands.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Type: Party Committee
Candidates: Supporting Davis, opposing Smith
Amount: $2.4 million in TV and digital ads
House Majority PAC
Type: Hybrid PAC
Aligned with: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California
Candidates: Opposing Smith
Amount: $1.4 million in TV, digital ads and mailers
Congressional Black Caucus PAC
Type: PAC
Aligned with: Congressional Black Caucus
Candidates: Supporting Davis
Amount: $98,000 in digital and radio ads
Mainstream Democrats PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Smith
Amount: $72,000 in digital ads
NRDC Action Votes
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: National Resources Defense Council
Candidates: Opposing Smith
Amount: $40,000 in radio ads
National Association of Realtors PAC
Type: PAC
Candidates: Supporting Davis
Amount: $11,000 in digital ads
Black Americans Making America First
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Smith
Amount: $25,000 in radio ads
Working America
Type: Independent Expenditure Filer
Candidates: Supporting Davis
Amount: $18,000 in digital ads and voter outreach (texting)
National Right to Life Victory Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: National Right to Life
Candidates: Supporting Smith
Amount: $3,000 in mailers
With Honor Fund
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Davis
Amount: $4,000 in billboards
Women Speak Out PAC
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
Candidates: Supporting Smith, opposing Davis
Amount: $4,000 in door hangers
US House, 13th District
Outside groups have spent nearly $6.8 million on ads, since the end of the primary, in this tossup race between Democratic state Sen. Wiley Nickel and Republican Bo Hines.
The 13th district is considered the most competitive in this year’s cycle, and both parties view the race as an important pickup opportunity in the battle for control of the House of Representatives, where Democrats currently hold a four-seat majority.
The district includes southern Wake County, including parts of downtown and Southeast Raleigh, as well as all of Johnston County, and parts of Harnett and Wayne counties.
National Republican Congressional Committee
Type: Party Committee
Candidates: Opposing Nickel
Amount: $2.3 million in TV ads
House Majority PAC
Type: Hybrid PAC
Aligned with: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California
Candidates: Opposing Hines
Amount: $1.8 million in TV and digital ads
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Type: Party Committee
Candidates: Opposing Hines
Amount: $1.4 million in TV and digital ads
Club For Growth Action
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: Club For Growth
Candidates: Opposing Nickel
Amount: $648,000 in TV ads and mailers
House Freedom Fund
Type: PAC
Aligned with: House Freedom Caucus
Candidates: Supporting Hines
Amount: $157,000 in digital ads and mailers
American Leadership PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Hines, opposing Nickel
Amount: $128,000 in digital ads, mailers and voter outreach (texting)
Center Forward Committee
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Hines
Amount: $50,000 in radio ads
LCV Victory Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: League of Conservation Voters
Candidates: Supporting Nickel
Amount: $43,000 in mailers
House Freedom Action
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: House Freedom Caucus
Candidates: Supporting Hines
Amount: $38,000 in mailers
Climate Power Action
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Nickel
Amount: $31,000 in ads
Stand For Freedom PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Hines
Amount: $22,500 in digital ads and voter outreach
Protect Freedom PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Hines
Amount: $20,000 in digital ads
Priorities USA Action
Type: Hybrid PAC
Candidates: Opposing Hines
Amount: $12,000 in ads
American Principles Project PAC
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Opposing Nickel
Amount: $11,000 in digital ads
Working America
Type: Independent Expenditure Filer
Candidates: Supporting Nickel
Amount: $7,000 in digital ads and voter outreach (texting)
National Right to Life Victory Fund
Type: Super PAC
Aligned with: National Right to Life
Candidates: Supporting Hines
Amount: $6,000 in mailers
US House, 14th District
The 14th district, where Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson is running against Republican Pat Harrigan, hasn’t attracted the same amount of spending as the races in the 13th and 1st districts.
Spending in this Charlotte-area district has featured just a handful of groups, including a labor union PAC and a super PAC which works to elect conservative candidates who have served in the military to Congress.
In total, outside groups have spent about $88,000 on ads in this race.
SEIU Committee on Political Education
Type: Labor Organization PAC
Aligned with: Service Employees International Union
Candidates: Supporting Jackson
Amount: $37,500 in digital ads
Ranger PAC
Type: PAC
Candidates: Supporting Harrigan
Amount: $25,000 in digital ads
Black Americans Making America First
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Harrigan
Amount: $17,000 in radio ads
Special Operations for America
Type: Super PAC
Candidates: Supporting Harrigan
Amount: $3,500 in digital ads
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