By: Ernest Luning
End Citizens United, a group dedicated to overturning the decision that opened the floodgates to campaign cash, endorsed Democratic congressional candidate Jason Crow on Thursday. At the same time, Crow pledged he won’t accept corporate PAC money in his bid to unseat five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman in the 6th Congressional District.
“By taking a stand to reject corporate PAC money, Jason Crow is proving that he’s accountable to the people of Colorado, not greedy corporate special interests,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller in a statement announcing the endorsement. “He’s putting his money where his mouth is. Jason stands in stark contrast to his opponent, Congressman Mike Coffman, who’s bought and paid for by special interests and works to protect the rigged system. We look forward to working with Jason to give a voice to those who have been ignored by Coffman and his corporate sponsors.”
The group’s support includes connecting Crow’s campaign with the 6,400 members who live in the congressional district and urging a network of 360,000 donors across the country to pitch in, a spokeswoman said. The group has raised nearly $2 million this cycle for candidates it backs and counts more than 3 million members.
“Corporate special interests have been buying our elections for too long; that is why I am taking the pledge to not accept corporate PAC money for my campaign,” said Crow, one of three Democrats running in a primary for the seat. “As our democratic institutions are under assault more than ever, it is critical that we restore transparency and accountability to our elections. Just as I have taken an oath to defend the Constitution as a soldier and a lawyer, I will do so as a member of Congress and work with ECU to overturn Citizens United and fight for campaign finance reform.”
According to the group, Coffman has accepted $1.7 million from corporate PACs since he first ran for Congress in 2008. He’s also voted against the congressional DISCLOSE Act and against a proposed constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
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“By taking the pledge to not accept corporate PAC money, Jason has gone above and beyond to show that he will not be beholden to corporate special interests,” [End Citizens United press secretary Anne] Feldman told Colorado Politics in a statement. “That’s in sharp contrast to Mike Coffman, a career politician, who has accepted over $1.7 million from corporate PACs and continues to protect the rigged system.”