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Campaign
Organizations (2015)
Building
Campaign
Organizations
(2015)
Building the Team
On March
23, Sen. Ted Cruz (R) became the first major candidate to formally
announce his candidacy. Others followed in April, May, June and
July. Once Vice President Joe Biden ruled out a run on October
21 the
the fields of Republican and Democratic
candidates were set. The campaign committees worked hard at
raising
money and buidling organizations. The first part of the year was
a fascinating time as the many pre-candidates purported to be making
their decisions about running; in fact they had all but decided.
Pre-candidates had a number of vehicles for their activity.
Leadership PAC were common, but some prospects had 501(c)(4)s or 527
organizations. As they neared launch of their campaigns, some of
the presidential prospects established testing the waters committees or
exploratory committees, but others eschewed this intermediate
step. The first three or four months of 2015 in particular saw
daily reports of
hirings and signing
ons as campaigns-in-waiting were assembled. In addition to the
national staff and advisors, much work went on in the key early
states. The goal was to assemble a team
of top talent that could work
together effectively to boost the candidate and his or her message and
secure the party's nomination. The campaigns started with their
organizations in the early states, but also began to name chairs,
steering
committees, leadership committees and/or advisors/consultants in other
states.
The Super PAC Election: A Parallel
Universe
As candidates built their campaign organizations, work was
simultaneously
going on on a parallel track to create super PACs, which can raise
funds in unlimited amounts to support candidates. Many super PACs
closely aligned with potential
presidential candidates sprouted up, particularly following the
2014 midterms. The super PACs were
nominally independent
(wink, wink). For example, the executive director of the CARLY
for America super PAC
formerly served as political director of Fiorina's Unlocking
Potential. The assistant treasurer of Jeb Bush's PAC and super
PAC were the same person; the treasurer of Bobby Jindal's Believe Again
PAC and the pro-Jindal Believe Again (super PAC) were the same
person. Once an individual formally enters the race and becomes a
candidate, however, the wall between the candidate and the super PAC
must be clear.
"This
committee
intends
to
make
independent
expenditures,
and
consistent
with
the
U.S.
Court
of
Appeals
for
the
District
of
Columbia
Circuit
decision
in
SpeechNow
v.
FEC,
it
therefore
intends
to
raise
funds
in
unlimited
amounts.
This
committee
will
not
use
those
funds
to
make
contributions,
whether
direct,
in-kind,
or
via
coordinated
communications,
to federal candidates or
committees."
Super PACs first had
an
impact in 2012, starting in the Republican primaries. In 2016
many of the super PACs were better funded than the
candidates' official campaigns. The super PACs essentially waged
the campaign in a parallel universe, engaging in a variety of
activities from traditional advertising to field organization and
offices.
More
Finally there were also non-profit policy or issue education groups
aligned with several of the candidates. Right to Rise Policy
Solutions, Inc. had ties with Jeb Bush and Conservative Solutions
Project had ties with Marco Rubio; all in alll these did not seem to
have much impact.
See also:
Good list at: Center for Responsive Politics. "Behind
the Candidates: Campaign Committees and Outside Groups."
Marc E. Elias and Jonathan S. Berkon. "Memo
for
Fundraisers." March 24, 2015. ...among the documents hacked by Guccifer 2.0, made
available in June 2016.
Republicans
Former Gov. Jeb Bush - Jeb 2016, Inc. ...presidential campaign committee; filed articles of incorporation with the Florida Department of State on June 4, 2015; announced/filed with the FEC on June 15, 2015.- Right to Rise PAC ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 6, 2015.
Dr. Ben Carson - Carson America ...presidential campaign comm. announced/filed with the FEC on May 4, 2015.
- Carson America Exploratory Committee ...filed with the FEC on March 2, 2015.
- USA First PAC ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on Aug. 26, 2014.
Gov. Chris Christie - Chris Christie for President, Inc. ...announced June 30, 2015, filed with the FEC on July 1.
- Leadership Matters for America PAC, Inc. ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 23, 2015.
Sen. Ted Cruz - Cruz for President ...presidential campaign committee filed with the FEC on March 23, 2015.
- Jobs, Growth and Freedom Fund ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on Nov. 14, 2012.
- Ted Cruz for Senate (2018) (FEC).
- Ted Cruz Victory Committee ...joint committee filed with the FEC on March 1, 2013.
Carly Fiorina - Carly for President ...presidential campaign comm. announced/filed with the FEC on May 4, 2015.
- Unlocking Potential PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on June 9, 2014.
Sen. Lindsey Graham - Lindsey Graham 2016 ...announced/filed with the FEC on June 1, 2015.
- Security Through Strength ...527 testing the waters committee formed Jan. 29, 2015.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee - Huckabee for President ...presidential campaign committee annc'd May 4, 2015; filed with the FEC on May 8.
- Prosperity for All Fund ... 527 organization formed March 18, 2015.
- America Takes Action ...501(c)(4) formed 2014.
- HUCK PAC ...filed with the FEC on April 8, 2008.
Gov. Bobby Jindal - Jindal for President ...announced June 24, 2015, file with the FEC on June 26.
- Bobby Jindal Exploratory Committee ...announced May 18, 2015.
- American Future Project ...527 organization formed late March 2015.
- America Next ...501(c)(4) formed Oct. 2013.
- Stand Up to Washington PAC ...filed with the FEC on March 11, 2014;
renamed Believe Again PAC in early Feb. 2015.
Gov. John Kasich - Kasich for America ...presidential campaign committee filed with the FEC on July 23, 2015.
- New Day Independent Media Committee Inc. ...527 organization reported on July 6, 2015. ...filed with the FEC as a super PAC on Aug. 8, 2015 (see below).
- New Day for America ...527 organization announced April 20, 2015. ...filed with the FEC as a super PAC on July 23, 2015 (see below).
- Balanced Budget Forever ...501(c)(4) formed Nov. 2014.
Former Gov. George Pataki - Pataki for President, Inc. ...ann'ced May 28, 2015; filed with the FEC on June 2, 2015.
- Pataki for President Exploratory Committee ...filed with the FEC on May 19, 2015.
- We the People, Not Washington PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 5, 2015; announced Jan. 22.
Sen. Rand Paul - Rand Paul for President Inc. ...presidential campaign committee filed with the FEC on
April 7, 2015.
- RAND PAC ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on March 9, 2011.
- Rand Paul for U.S. Senate 2016 (FEC).
- Rand Paul Victory Committee ...joint committee filed with the FEC on June 11, 2013.
Gov. Rick Perry - Perry for President, Inc. ...announced June 4, 2015, filed with the FEC on June 30, 2015.
- RickPAC ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on July 31, 2014.
- Americans for Economic Freedom ...501(c)(4) formed Sept. 2013.
Sen. Marco Rubio - Marco Rubio for President .....pres. campaign committee filed with the FEC on April 13, 2015.
- Reclaim America PAC ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on Aug. 2, 2011.
- Marco Rubio for Senate (2016) ...not seeking reelection (FEC).
- Rubio Victory Committee ...joint committee filed with the FEC on March 28, 2011
Former Sen. Rick Santorum - Santorum for President ...announced/filed with the FEC on May 27, 2015.
- Rick Santorum Presidential Testing the Waters Committee ...formed April 9, 2015.
- Patriot Voices ...501(c)(4) launched June 8, 2012.
- Patriot Voices PAC ...filed with the FEC on Aug. 30, 2012.
Donald Trump - Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. ...announced June 16, 2015.
- The Donald J. Trump Presidential Exploratory Committee ...announced March 18, 2015.
Gov. Scott Walker - Scott Walker Inc. ...filed with the FEC on July 2, 2015.
- Scott Walker Inc. Testing the Waters ...announced June 18, 2015.
- Our American Revival ...527 organization formed late Jan. 2015.
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore - Gilmore for America LLC ...filed with the FEC on July 29, 2015.
Not In
Former Amb. John Bolton - John Bolton PAC ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on March 8, 2013.
- The Foundation for American Security and Freedom ....501(c)(4) announced Feb. 20, 2015.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush - Right to Rise USA ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 16, 2015.
- Right to Rise Policy Solutions, Inc. ...501(c)(4) formed Feb. 2, 2015. (+)
- Millennials for Jeb ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 26, 2015. (+)
Dr. Ben Carson - One Vote ...super PAC filed with the FEC on March 17, 2015.
- The 2016 Committee ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Oct. 23, 2014.
[National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee ...super PAC filed w/ FEC on Aug. 21, 2013].
Gov. Chris Christie - America Leads ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Feb. 23, 2015.
Sen. Ted Cruz - Keep the Promise PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on April 9, 2015. (+)
- Keep the Promise I ...super PAC filed with the FEC on April 9, 2015.
- Keep the Promise II ...super PAC filed with the FEC on April 9, 2015.
- Keep the Promise III ...super PAC filed with the FEC on April 9, 2015.
- Stand for Truth PAC
- Courageous Conservatives PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Sept. 16, 2015.
- Stand for Principle PAC ....super PAC filed with the FEC on Nov. 7, 2014.
- Draft Ted Cruz for President ....super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 10, 2014. (+)
Carly Fiorina - CARLY for America Committee ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Feb. 25, 2015. (+)
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore - Growth PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Sept. 22, 2014.
Sen. Lindsey Graham - Security Is Strength PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Mar. 3, 2015.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee - Pursuing America's Greatness ....super PAC filed with the FEC on Mar. 11, 2015.
Gov. Bobby Jindal - Believe Again ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 22, 2015.
Gov. John Kasich - New Day for America ...super PAC filed with the FEC on July 23, 2015.
- New Day Independent Media Committee, Inc. ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Aug. 6, 2015.
Former Gov. George Pataki - We the People, Not Washington PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 5, 2015; announced Jan. 22.
Sen. Rand Paul - America's Liberty PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Oct. 16, 2012.
- Concerned American Voters ...super PAC re-filed with the FEC on June 12, 2015.
Former Gov. Rick Perry - Opportunity and Freedom PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Mar. 4, 2015.
- Opportunity and Freedom I ...super PAC filed with the FEC on June 26, 2015.
- Opportunity and Freedom II ...super PAC filed with the FEC on July 10, 2015.
Sen. Marco Rubio - Conservative Solutions PAC ...super PAC re-filed with the FEC on Feb. 24, 2015.
- Conservative Solutions Project ...501(c)(4) formed Jan. 2014.
Former Sen. Rick Santorum - Working Again PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on July 1, 2015.
Gov. Scott Walker - Unintimidated PAC ..super PAC filed with the FEC on April 16, 2015 (+).
[Draft Scott Walker for President 2016 ....super PAC filed with the FEC on Feb. 18, 2015. (+)]
Not In
Former Amb. John Bolton - John Bolton Super PAC ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Mar. 8, 2013.
Vice President Joe Biden - Office of the Vice President.
Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton - Hillary for America ...presidential campaign committee filed with the FEC on April 13, 2015.
Former Gov. Martin O'Malley - O'Malley for President ...announced May 30, 2015; filed statement of organization with the FEC on May 29.
- O'Say Can You See PAC (O'PAC) ...filed with the FEC on July 23, 2012.
- O'Say Can You See PAC (non-federal - 527) ...formed Aug. 16, 2012.
Former Gov. Lincoln Chafee - Chafee for President ...announced June 3, 2015; filed statement of candidacy with the FEC on June 16, 2015
- Chafee 2016 Exploratory Committee. ...announced April 9, 2015 (+).
Former Sen. Jim Webb - Webb 2016 Exploratory Committee. ...announced Nov. 19, 2014 (+).
- Born Fighting PAC ...filed with the FEC in Dec. 2006.
Sen. Bernie Sanders - Bernie 2016 ...presidential campaign committee filed with the FEC on April 30, 2015.
- Friends of Bernie Sanders (Senate campaign committee) (FEC).
- Progressive Voters of America ...leadership PAC filed with the FEC on Sept. 30, 2004.
Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton - Correct The Record ...super PAC formed May 2015.
- Priorities USA Action ...super PAC filed with the FEC on April 29, 2011.
- Ready for Hillary ....super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 25, 2013.
Gov. Martin O'Malley - Generation Forward PAC ...super PAC formed late May 2015.
Sen. Bernie Sanders - Draft Bernie ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Jan. 28, 2014.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren - Ready for Warren Presidential Draft Committee ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Aug. 7, 2014.
Vice President Joe Biden - Draft Biden ...super PAC filed with the FEC on Mar. 18, 2015.
- Jill2016 Exploratory Committee ...527 testing the waters announced Feb. 6, 2015.
- Green Shadow Cabinet ...501(c)(4) announced April 22, 2013 (+).
Former Gov. Gary Johnson (L) - Gary Johson 2016 ...announced Jan. 6, 2016.
- Our America Initiative ...501(c)(4) formed in 2009.
American Bridge 21st Century
America Rising LLC
Notes
1. Various types of organizations fulfilled exploratory or testing the waters functions, as outlined in a Campaign Legal Center white paper (1) and complaints, and in several complaints from the Democratic-aligned American Democracy Legal Fund (a, b, c) and the Republican aligned Foundation for Accountablity and Civic Trust (d).
Paul S. Ryan. "'Testing the Waters' and the Big Lie: How Prospective Presidential Candidates Evade Candidate Contribution Limits While the FEC Looks the Other Way." Campaign Legal Center, Feb. 20, 2015 (+). Note: The Campaign Legal Center also joined with Democracy 21 to file several complaints with the FEC on March 21 (+).
2. Brent Ferguson. "Candidates & Super PACS: The New Model in 2016." Brennan Center for Justice, June 12, 2015.
3. In terms of super PACs, two particularly well-organized independent groups formed in 2013, seeking to build grassroots support for possible candidacies: Ready for Hillary and the National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee. These two super PACs each reported a bit over $12 million in total receipts in 2014. Some of the super PACs did not take off. Ready for Romney formed on Dec. 17, 2014; Ready for Christie PAC launched in Nov. 2013, but was inactive by Jan. 2014; Human Action Super PAC, formed to support Rand Paul, drew a bit of early attention but then went quiet.
- Earlier edition of this page: Pre-Campaign Organization (2013-14)
Federal Election Commission:
2016 Presidential
Elections
older information:
2013-14 Finances
FEC Post-Election Reports (Jan. 1, 2013 to Nov. 24, 2014)
| Total
Receipts |
Total
Disbursements |
Ending
COH |
||
| USA
First
PAC [8/26/14] |
Dr. Ben Carson |
$377,072 | $169,255 | $207,817 |
| Jobs
Growth
and
Freedom
Fund |
Sen. Ted Cruz |
$2,093,333 | $1,954,341 | $138,992 |
| Unlocking
Potential
PAC [6/9/14] |
Carly Fiorina |
$1,867,019 | $1,576,573 | $290,445 |
| HUCK
PAC |
Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee |
$2,209,073 | $1,927,069 | $493,228 |
| Stand
Up
to
Washington
PAC [3/11/14] |
Gov. Bobby Jindal |
$251,003 | $245,970 | $5,032 |
| RAND
PAC |
Sen. Rand Paul |
$3,627,921 | $3,763,313 | $290,105 |
| RickPAC
[7/31/14] |
Gov. Rick Perry |
$204,691 |
$142,202 |
$62,489 |
| Reclaim
America
PAC |
Sen. Marco Rubio |
$3,818,373 |
$3,964,367 |
$15,527 |
| Patriot
Voices
PAC |
Fmr. Sen. Rick Santorum |
$1,805,824 |
$2,011,091 |
$89,232 |
| O'Say
Can
You
See
PAC |
Gov. Martin O'Malley |
$1,338,359 |
$845,671 |
$521,050 |
Independent Super PACs Total Receipts and Total Disbursements in 2013-14 Cycle
FEC Post-Election Reports (Jan. 1, 2013 to Nov. 24, 2014)
| Total
Receipts |
Total
Disbursements |
Ending
COH |
Debts/Loans |
|
| Ready
for
Hillary
PAC |
$12,173,249 |
$11,297,623 |
$875,626 |
$1,000,000 |
| Ready
for
Warren
Pres.
Draft [7/1/14] |
$66,106 |
$54,776 |
$11,329 |
|
| National
Draft
Ben
Carson
for
Pres. |
$12,252,716 |
$12,018,823 |
$233,893 |
$390,684 |
| Draft Ted Cruz for President
[1/10/14] |
$426,503 | $415,617 | $10,885 |