Dark Money in U.S. Elections

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce received a large donation from billionaire Hank Meijer after endorsing his son, Rep. Peter Meijer, in a primary election. The Chamber then spent part of the donation on an ad supporting Peter Meijer, exploiting a legal loophole to conceal the source of the funds.

Partisan-backed Websites vs Local Newspapers in the U.S.

Partisan-backed websites designed to look like impartial news outlets now outnumber real local newspapers in the U.S., indicating a clear attempt to influence politics. There are over 1,200 such websites identified, with eight primary organizations supporting most of them. The decline of local newspapers has created an opportunity for political actors to exploit the media landscape.

Controversial Donation and Endorsement by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce received an $800,000 donation from billionaire Hank Meijer shortly after endorsing his son, Peter Meijer, for a contentious primary. The donation was used for an ad supporting Peter Meijer without explicitly advocating for his election. Campaign finance experts suggest this highlights the issue of 'dark money' in elections.

Dark Money in Politics

James Carville believes President Biden won't be able to recreate his 2020 coalition in 2024 due to issues with young, nonwhite voters. Democratic leaders criticize dark money in politics while benefiting from millions in secretive donations for the 2024 elections. Both Schumer-aligned and Jeffries-affiliated PACs have received significant dark money contributions.