Article author:
Associated Press
Brian Slodysko
Washington (AP) — In the first week after the Supreme Court deprived women of their constitutional rights to abort, the Democratic Party and allied groups More than $ 80 million raised, concrete early signs that the ruling may invigorate voters.
However, party officials said that donors would have their money due to national campaigns and causes instead of competition for state positions where abortion policies would be shaped as a result of court decisions. Says they are giving a lot of. Here, Republicans use disproportionate power after spending more than a decade putting money and resources into a contest that is critical but often overlooked.
Financing inequality is an example of how lack of long-term planning can lead to both structural disadvantages and the foundation of resentful democracy. is showing. With the exception of voting to pass a bill that goes through a predicaed and narrowly divided parliament, the right to abortion now seems to be the latest issue, largely entrusted to the state. It was after the failure of democratic efforts to expand voting rights, limit gerrymandering, and significantly strengthen gun law.
"Democrats can't afford to systematically ignore downballot races, not when Republicans are eager to break into our medical decisions, bedrooms, and marriages," the Democrats said. Spokesman Gabriel Chu said. A legislative campaign committee that helps fund state legislative elections. "This should be a wake-up call."
A large $ 80 million round of funding was recorded by the Democratic Party's online funding platform, ActBlue. The platform has a ticker that displays the funds passing through the organization in real time. ActBlue is Roe v by the Supreme Court. After overthrowing Wade, I received over $ 20 million in the first 24 hours. This is a 1973 ruling that determined that abortion was a constitutional right. By Tuesday, the group had processed more than $ 51 million in donations, reaching a total of $ 80 million by Friday.
In fact, all major democratic campaign committees have reported a surge in post-judgment contributions, including those working on state-level and federal races. Also planned parent-child relationships. However, few people are willing to publish difficult numbers.
Republican online funding portal WinRed has not responded to party funding inquiries since the court's decision.
Financing disparities are novel between democratic groups working for state candidates and groups focusing on national issues after a decisive moment. Not. For example, ActBlue received more than $ 71 million in just 24 hours after the death of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court, but made little donations to groups working on state-level campaigns.
Democratic National Committee Jamie broke the record of funding in his long-term bid to expel South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and head to Congress in Washington in 2020. Consider the case of Chairman Harrison. Harrison eventually lost more than 10 points in the race. He raised over $ 57 million in the last few months of the campaign. This includes a 24-hour period that has raised over $ 1 million.
But in the case of the State Capitol. The Democratic Governor's Association has announced that it has raised $ 200,000 after a court ruling last week. The organization said Thursday that it had a pace to raise $ 1 million before the start of the long weekend of July 4. This is less than any other committee focused on domestic racing.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Commission, which raises funds for national races, has not stated how much it has incorporated since the court's decision. However, past funding figures show how scarce the group's resources are.
DLCC raised $ 650,000 in 48 hours after a leaked copy of a court decision surfaced in May. We celebrated earlier this year when we announced that we had raised nearly $ 6 million in the last three months of last year.
Its GOP counterpart, the Republican State Leaders' Committee, has raised more than double that of the same period last year.
"When Democrats (spend) one-on-one with Republicans in the legislature, we beat them," Florida raises funds for state and state campaigns. Democrat Greg Goddard said. "But if it's 3 to 1 or 4 to 1, we're confused."
A group that recruits candidates for school board races, city councils, and councils Run For Something Amanda Litman, co-founder of the Democratic Party, said it has a disastrous track record of investing in down. Ballot races to build a bench of future talent.
"The worst laws will come from the redst states, and they aren't going to stay on the borders of those red states. So what are you going to do to mitigate the harm?" Littmann said after the abortion decision. "I want to see Joe Biden raising funds for DLCC and DGA."
Democratic funding ecosystems are usually social media stars, Reward those who appear in popular liberal shows like Rachel Maddow, or candidates who become viral online. This is very difficult for race candidates who don't get much attention from home, like most legislative contests.
On the other hand, huge donors have historically donated to national candidates or groups focused on the president and parliament.
Still, some Democrats are opposed to the proposal that the down ballot race hasn't received enough attention.
Governor's Association spokesman Sam Newton said he had his own success story. Democratic candidates in major states saw a massive surge in donations after the court's decision, he said. The group also closed the two-to-one funding gap with the Republicans that existed within 10 years, reaching the same level last year.
Planned Parenthood has an abortion rights group, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and EMILY's List to help women who plan to spend $ 150 million up and down. It's part of a collaborative effort. Jenny Lawson, executive director of the planned parent vote, said the 2022 mid-term vote.
The Governor's race will be the main focus, she said, citing Michigan and Wisconsin, where decades-old legislation banning abortion still remains in the book. There is. (Michigan law dates back to 1931 and Wisconsin law dates back to 1849.) Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers are both Democrats and face a tough reelection battle. I am.
"These governors stood in front of these Republican parliaments who only wanted to ban abortion and said'no'," Lawson said. "These governors are at the forefront and we need to protect them."
But others are out of the race where their efforts are in the spotlight. I'm skeptical that it will run down.
Littmann said he was warming up to the idea that some party donors would participate in the Downballot Contest. But within the party, especially among mega-donors, she said there is still a culture of chasing "bright and shining objects." Meanwhile, she said, the Republicans treat political contributions as "business investment-getting a judge and tax cuts" and "patiently spending money knowing that it will pay off."
"We need to balance short-term immediate election goals with a long-term mission to regain these seats," Littmann said.
-
