Independence USA PAC
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| Independence USA PAC | |
| Basic facts | |
| Type: | Super PAC |
| Founder(s): | Michael Bloomberg |
| Year founded: | 2012 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Super PACs |
|---|
 |
| Read more aboutsuper PACs and thesuper PACs covered on Ballotpedia. |
Independence USA is asuper PAC created by formerNew York City MayorMichael Bloomberg, with the aim of supporting candidates who show a willingness to participate in bi-partisan interactions on policy issues related to firearms, the environment, education, and marriage.[1]
Mission
As of July 2017, the website for Independence USA listed the following statement concerning the organization's purpose:[1]
| “ | Michael R. Bloomberg has created a major effort to support candidates and referenda in local, state and Federal races across the country, with a focus on issues including gun laws, the environment, education policy and marriage equality. The effort will support moderates on both sides of the aisle—as well as independents—who have shown a willingness to work in a bi-partisan fashion. It will also target candidates who support–and oppose– efforts to crack down on illegal guns and reform education policy.[2] | ” |
Background
The Independence USA PAC was officially formed in October 2012, when Diane Gubelli, the organization's treasurer, filed paperwork with the FEC.[3] According to the PAC's website, the "effort is a continuation of Michael R. Bloomberg's long history of supporting candidates and referenda that reflect his independent and non-partisan approach to government."[1]
Political activity
2016 elections
According toOpen Secrets, Independence USA had spent $13,404,257 during the 2016 election cycle. The group spent $538,641 for Democratic candidates, $5,999,862 for Republican candidates, and $6,865,754 against Republican candidates.[4]
The following table details the top independent expenditures for the organization in 2016.
| Independence USA PAC expenditures in the 2016 election cycle | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | For | Against |
| Kelly Ayotte |  | N.H. | U.S. Senate | $114,272 | $6,076,828 |
| Pat Toomey | | Pa. | U.S. Senate | $5,885,590 | $0 |
| Donald Trump | | N/A | President | $0 | $788,926 |
| Val Demings |  | Fla. | U.S. House | $538,641 | $0 |
2014 elections
According toOpen Secrets, the Independence USA PAC spent a total of $17,767,774 during the 2014 election cycle.[5]
Expenditures
According toOpen Secrets, in the 2014 election cycle, the Independence USA PAC spent a grand total of $5,581,784 in independent expenditures, distributed as follows: $2,078,996 for Democrats, $1,403,868 against Democrats, $2,098,920 for Republicans, and $0 against Republicans.[6]
| Independence USA PAC expenditures in the 2014 election cycle[6] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | For | Against | ||
| Cory Booker | | NJ | Senate | $732,534 | $0 | ||
| Bob Dold | | IL | House | $1,925,410 | $0 | ||
| Michael Fitzpatrick | | PA | House | $173,510 | $0 | ||
| Al Franken | | MN | Senate | $512,850 | $0 | ||
| Debbie Halvorson | | IL | House | $0 | $1,403,868 | ||
| Robin Kelly | | IL | House | $833,612 | $0 | ||
2012 elections
According to theSunlight Foundation, Independence USA spent $8,230,464.22 in the 2012 election cycle. Of those funds, 46.09 percent achieved the desired result, based onSunlight Foundation analysis.[7]
Open Secrets also analyzed the success of 2012 general election cycle spending, as follows:[8]
Expenditures
According to theSunlight Foundation, in the 2012 election cycle, the Independence USA PAC spent a grand total of $8,230,464.22 in independent expenditures, distributed as follows: $5,113,575.51 for Democrats, $296,161.40 against Democrats, $2,080,927.42 for Republicans, and $739,799.89 against Republicans.[9]
| Top 8 largestIndependence USA PAC expenditures in the 2012 election cycle[9] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | |
| Gloria Negrete McLeod | | CA | House | $3,000,423 | $3,000,423 | $0 | |
| Val Demings | | FL | House | $2,076,888 | $2,076,888 | $0 | |
| Andrew Roraback | | CT | House | $1,117,446 | $1,117,446 | $0 | |
| Robert Dold | | IL | House | $963,477 | $963,477 | $0 | |
| Ann Marie Buerkle | | NY | House | $460,849 | $0 | $460,849 | |
| Joe Baca | | CA | House | $296,160 | $0 | $296,160 | |
| Daniel Webster | | FL | House | $278,949 | $0 | $278,949 | |
| Dan Maffei | | NY | House | $36,262 | $36,262 | 0 | |
Finances
The following table identifies total receipts and disbursements for Independence USA PAC according to documents filed with theFederal Election Commission:
| Annual federal receipts and disbursements for Independence USA PAC, 2012-2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax year | Total receipts | Total disbursements |
| 2016[10] | $16,230,373 | $16,464,607 |
| 2015[11] | $5,444,873 | $5,269,548 |
| 2014[12] | $11,463,252 | $11,428,228 |
| 2013[13] | $5,994,700 | $6,339,545 |
| 2012[14] | $10,004,235 | $9,630,929 |
Legal status
Independence USA PAC is asuper PAC. A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees. A super PAC is not legally considered apolitical action committee (PAC) and as such is regulated under separate rules.[15][16]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Independence USA' PAC. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Official Independence USA PAC official website
- Independence USA PAC on Facebook
- Independence USA PAC spending profile atThe Wall Street Journal (2012)
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.2Independence USA PAC, "About," accessed July 5, 2017
- ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑FEC, "Independence USA PAC Statement of Organization," October 18, 2012
- ↑Open Secrets, "Independence USA PAC 2016 summary," accessed July 31, 2016
- ↑Open Secrets, "Independence USA PAC 2014 summary," accessed July 31, 2016
- ↑6.06.1Open Secrets, "Independence USA PAC Expenditures, 2016," accessed July 31, 2016
- ↑Sunlight Foundation, "Outside spenders' return on investment," November 14, 2012
- ↑OpenSecrets, "AFL-CIO Workers' Voices PAC," accessed July 8, 2013
- ↑9.09.1Sunlight Foundation, "Outside Spending 2012," accessed July 10, 2013
- ↑Federal Election Commission, "Independence USA PAC Year-End Report, 2016," June 23, 2017
- ↑Federal Election Commission, "Independence USA PAC Year-End Report, 2015," April 20, 2016
- ↑Federal Election Commission, "Independence USA PAC Year-End Report, 2014," January 30, 2015
- ↑Federal Election Commission, "Independence USA PAC Year-End Report, 2013," January 31, 2014
- ↑Federal Election Commission, "Independence USA PAC Year-End Report, 2012," January 31, 2013
- ↑The Atlantic, "The New York Times' Disingenuous Campaign Against Citizens United," February 24, 2012
- ↑The New York Times, "Who's Financing the 'Super PACs?" May 7, 2012
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