End Citizens United (ECU) announced today that its network of grassroots members have contributed $100,000 in small-dollar donations, with an average donation of $8, directly to Danny O’Connor’s campaign in the special election for Ohio’s 12th Congressional District.
“Danny’s commitment to putting people first — not corporate special interests — is galvanizing the grassroots,” said ECU President, Tiffany Muller. “Unlike his opponent, Troy Balderson, who has taken over $120,000 from corporate special interests, Danny is running a campaign powered by the grassroots and refuses to accept a dime from corporate PACs. Our grassroots members stand united behind Danny and will continue to help fend off the flood of corporate spending in this race.”
ECU’s grassroots network has been at the forefront in the 2017 and 2018 special elections. In the special election in PA-18, ECU was the first national group to endorse Conor Lamb, and worked with his campaign to build a grassroots network of small-dollar donors and volunteers, raising $300,000 directly for the campaign. In the AZ-08 special election, ECU’s members donated over $225,000 for Hiral Tipirneni’s campaign, averaging $8 per contribution. ECU also played an important role in the Alabama special election, endorsing Doug Jones early on and raising over $600,000 in small-dollar donations for his campaign.
In May, a poll commissioned by ECU and conducted by PPP, showed a single digit contest in the OH-12 special election with Democrat Danny O’Connor trailing Republican Troy Balderson by two points, 43 to 45 percent. After voters heard a message highlighting O’Connor’s reform platform and Balderson’s ties to the corporate special interests, O’Connor gained a five-point lead over Balderson, 46 to 41 percent. O’Connor’s surge is in line with other poll findings which show that 85% of likely voters see special interest money as a problem in Ohio elections.
ECU is dedicated to getting Big Money out of politics and fixing the rigged system in Washington so it works for all Americans. ECU connects its endorsed candidates with its grassroots members and its 400,000 small-dollar donors to help ensure they have the resources to win. So far this cycle, ECU has contributed $1 million to endorsed candidates and raised over $5 million in small-dollar donations directly for their campaigns. ECU continues to elevate campaign finance reform as a national priority and advocates for meaningful legislation.
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