By Theodoric Meyer, 01/21/2016
End Citizens United, a PAC formed to boost pro-campaign finance reform Democrats, saw its fundraising surge in the second half of 2015. It raised $5.4 million from more than 150,000 donors in those six months, the group announced on Thursday, the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
The haul is a fresh indication that the PAC, formed last March, could be a major player in 2016 Senate and House races. End Citizens United plans to spend $25 million on independent expenditures this year. Only eight groups made more independent expenditures in the 2014 elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
“It’s still money that we need to raise, but with the growth that we’re seeing, we feel confident that we’ll be able to do that,” senior adviser Reed Adamson said.
End Citizens United raised just under $1.5 million in its first four months.
The PAC has endorsed 62 Democratic candidates so far, from incumbents who will face little trouble to challengers in tough races. All have pledged to work toward campaign finance reform.
Adamson said the PAC has focused resources so far on 37 candidates in more difficult races. They include marquee Senate candidates, like Ohio’s Ted Strickland and Florida’s Patrick Murphy, as well as lesser-known House candidates like Val Demings in Florida’s 10th District and John Plumb in New York’s 23rd District.