By: Elena Schneider
Small-dollar Democratic donors have flooded progressive groups in 2017 with more cash than they’ve ever had. Now, they’re figuring out exactly what to do with it in 2018.
BOLD PAC, the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, didn’t crack $1 million raised in 2014 — but now officials predict spending anywhere from $10 million to $14 million backing more than a dozen candidates in 2018 primaries and battleground general elections. 314 Action, a group backing science professionals for office, says it could spend up to $7 million in its first full election cycle. End Citizens United has doubled its staff in preparation for a busy 2018, while EMILY’s List broke down a wall in its D.C. headquarters to fit in more desks.
The wave of money could give Democrats more flexibility than ever to target a broad range of House seats, gubernatorial mansions and state legislatures next year. It could also fuel an unusual number of expensive, hard-fought primaries featuring candidates backed by different groups in the progressive ecosystem.
For now, Democrats are focusing on the positive.
“On online alone, we see numbers right now that’s more consistent with what we’d do at the end of a cycle in terms of fundraising,” said Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets, another group that’s seen a spike in activism and giving. “It’s exploded the community.”
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Digital fundraising — often accompanied by the all-caps subject line “DOOMED” — has become a particularly valuable resource for a Democratic Party out of power in Washington and many states. And Democratic giving is smashing records for these groups, like End Citizens United, which raised more than $2 million for special-election candidates this year, more than doubling its total for all its candidates in the 2016 cycle.
That’s due in part to the “universe of donors expanding significantly this cycle,” said Greg Berlin, a Democratic digital fundraising consultant. “It’s a big deal because the pie has grown, so more organizations and candidates are going to be able to catch fire this cycle than in cycles past.”
And they know who to thank: President Donald Trump. “He’s the lightning rod,” said California Rep. Tony Cárdenas, chairman of BOLD PAC.
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For now, a steady cash flow means these groups are already expanding their 2018 game plan.
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End Citizens United raised $25 million in 2016, and it plans to raise $35 million for the midterm. It’s also investing in polling and research that it’s sharing with campaigns.
“We’re going to be able to spend more in our targeted races this cycle than last cycle,” said Adam Bozzi, communications director for End Citizens United.