Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

Groups that don’t have to disclose their donors have accounted for almost two-thirds of political ad spending this cycle. The so-called dark money groups—social welfare organizations, associations and others—which aren’t required to reveal the interests behind them, have put up more than $213 million on political ads since the start of 2015. The groups have promoted their views on everything from climate change to health-care policy to immigration.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which loosened decades-old limits on money in politics by declaring that political spending was a form of speech protected by the First Amendment, opened the door for nonprofit trade associations, social welfare organizations and limited liability corporations to become more active in politics.

“Nonprofits want to shape races,” said WSU professor of political science Travis Ridout, referring to the politically active groups that spend early on congressional candidates. “They want to be involved in Senate and House races across the country. They have more ideological goals, whereas super-PACs are moving into a single candidate role.”

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