Follow the money: Your guide to understanding PACs and super PACs
Political campaigns cost a cost a lot of money on all levels of government, especially if the candidate wants a chance of winning. According to opensecrets.org $6.5 billion was spent on presidential races in 2020. In the same year, another $9.9 billion was spent on congressional races. In 2022, that number decreased to $8.9 billion.
Campaigns can be funded by constituents, political parties and businesses, but they often rely on a boost from political action committees, known as PACs or super PACs.
PACs and super PACs often bring in large amounts of revenue for candidates of their choice. Representatives of the groups are able advertise candidates of their choosing to voters in their area in hopes convincing them to vote for their candidate. They're also non-partisan, often playing both sides to find candidates who will help further their personal initiatives. However, many groups will lean one way or another, based on their wants.
The difference between the two is how much money they're allowed to receive and how they may interact with a candidate.
More: Pay to play: Wyoming statehouse campaigns more than twice as expensive as in 2010
What is a PAC?
Political action committees are established by interest groups such as unions or corporations with specific initiatives. They are able to raise money in support of political actions and campaigns through various means. They are, however, are limited to how much they can receive from a singular individual or organization, with the same rules applying to a candidate and their campaign. Those amounts are determined by the Federal Election Commission.
PACs are allowed to communicate directly with candidates. This allows for candidates to approve ads and other campaign materials from the PACs before their release, without having to spend their own money. As a result, candidates will likely speak in favor of initiatives promoted by the PAC.
What is a super PAC?
Super PACs do not have any limitation on the amount they can receive from individuals or organization, able to then give as much as they are willing to a candidate. However, by federal law, super PACs and candidates are not allowed to have any interaction with one another. While there is no established fine for breaking this rule, it is up to the FEC to decide on a punishment.
How PAC money is used
In 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court case Citizens United vs FEC ruled that a corporation is entitled to the First Amendment, striking down a part of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and allowing super PACs donate as much money as want, so long as they adhere to the other requirements.
Super PACs will make create ads in support or against political candidates based on their own interests and priorities. During the runoff election for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District Protect Congress, the Protect Congress PAC released an ad against candidate Rep. Anthony Daniels in favor of candidate Shomari Figures.
Figures' campaign reported $390,393.47 in total contributions. His opponent Caroleene Dobson's campaign reported $239,701.49.
More: Unleash America was supposed to be about supporting Va. candidates. But the money didn't go there.
While funds from PACs and super PACs are usually used to promote candidates they believe support their specific initiatives, the money raise may not necessarily be donated or used to promote a candidate directly.
Leftover funds from a campaign are prohibited to be used for personal expenses by a candidate. However, PACs and super PACs are granted leniency with what they do with funds. They are able to use money raised on other matters, including administrative expenses, charitable donations and contributions and can transfer funds to another campaign in the event of the initial candidate withdrawing.
It was recently determined that former president Donald Trump is allowed to use funds from the Save America leadership PAC to help pay for his court fees in the ongoing hush money trial.
More: Trump committee's spending on lawyers soars to $76 million, draining funds to fight Biden
Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the Paste BN Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser.