Highway 31 Super PAC: Difference between revisions
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The '''Highway 31 Super PAC''' | The '''Highway 31 Super PAC''' was a single-issue political action committee headed by Montgomery political strategist Adam Muhlendorf and [[Birmingham]] attorney [[Edward Still]] with a mailing address at the [[UPS Store]] at 429 [[Green Springs Highway]]. Its purpose was to support the campaign of Democratic candidate [[Doug Jones]] in the [[2017 U.S. Senate special election]], primarily by distributing material criticizing his opponent, former judge [[Roy Moore]]. The group, which spent around $6 million, was named for [[U.S. Highway 31]] which connects Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. | ||
The Super PAC contracted with Bully Pulpit Interactive and Waterfront Strategies of Washington, DC to produce and distribute print and broadcast advertisements. The ads focused on the allegations, reported by the ''Washington Post'' and [[Alabama Media Group]], that Moore had engaged in improper sexual behavior with teenage girls while he was an Assistant District Attorney in [[Etowah County]] in the 1970s. | The Super PAC contracted with Bully Pulpit Interactive and Waterfront Strategies of Washington, DC to produce and distribute print and broadcast advertisements. The ads focused on the allegations, reported by the ''Washington Post'' and [[Alabama Media Group]], that Moore had engaged in improper sexual behavior with teenage girls while he was an Assistant District Attorney in [[Etowah County]] in the 1970s. Highway 31 Super PAC also spent $2 million to partner with [[BlackPAC]] to encourage voter turnout. | ||
The PAC was founded late in the campaign, and reported liabilities of $1,154,844.31, with no actual income or expenses, in its initial financial filing to the Federal Election Commission covering the period up to [[November 22]]. The amount trailed the $5.4 million spent by Jones' campaign, but exceeded the reported ad spending by Moore or any other PAC. Because its next public filing would not be due until January [[2018]], the organization would not be required to reveal its donors before the [[December 12]] election. Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Center characterized the arrangement as a "shady scheme" to avoid disclosing its sources of funding. Eric Wang, a Republican campaign finance attorney who formerly worked at the Federal Election Commission, stated that such arrangements are not novel in political campaigns. | The PAC was founded late in the campaign, and reported liabilities of $1,154,844.31, with no actual income or expenses, in its initial financial filing to the Federal Election Commission covering the period up to [[November 22]]. The amount trailed the $5.4 million spent by Jones' campaign, but exceeded the reported ad spending by Moore or any other PAC. Because its next public filing would not be due until January [[2018]], the organization would not be required to reveal its donors before the [[December 12]] election. Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Center characterized the arrangement as a "shady scheme" to avoid disclosing its sources of funding. Eric Wang, a Republican campaign finance attorney who formerly worked at the Federal Election Commission, stated that such arrangements are not novel in political campaigns. | ||
In early December, a video advertisement from Highway 31 was pulled off of YouTube.com and Google after complaints from [[Alabama Secretary of State]] [[John Merrill]] that the message, "Your vote is public record and your community will know whether or not you helped stop Roy Moore." was misleading. A voter's appearance at the polls is recorded, but not their ballot choices. | In early December, a video advertisement from Highway 31 was pulled off of YouTube.com and Google after complaints from [[Alabama Secretary of State]] [[John Merrill]] that the message, "Your vote is public record and your community will know whether or not you helped stop Roy Moore." was misleading. A voter's appearance at the polls is recorded, but not their ballot choices. | ||
The day before the special elections, ''POLITICO'' cited sources identifying the Senate Majority PAC and Priorities USA Action as backers of the Super PAC. That reporting was confirmed by Super PAC spokesman [[Chris Hayden]] in late December. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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* Gattis, Paul (December 6, 2017) "Anti-Roy Moore ad removed from You Tube after complaints." {{BN}} | * Gattis, Paul (December 6, 2017) "Anti-Roy Moore ad removed from You Tube after complaints." {{BN}} | ||
* Debrenedetti, Gabriel (December 11, 2017) "Secret super PAC backing Jones in Alabama exposed." ''POLITICO'' | * Debrenedetti, Gabriel (December 11, 2017) "Secret super PAC backing Jones in Alabama exposed." ''POLITICO'' | ||
* Chandler, Kim (December 27, 2017) "Senate Majority PAC backed Jones’ winning Alabama campaign." Associated Press | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 15:17, 27 December 2017
The Highway 31 Super PAC was a single-issue political action committee headed by Montgomery political strategist Adam Muhlendorf and Birmingham attorney Edward Still with a mailing address at the UPS Store at 429 Green Springs Highway. Its purpose was to support the campaign of Democratic candidate Doug Jones in the 2017 U.S. Senate special election, primarily by distributing material criticizing his opponent, former judge Roy Moore. The group, which spent around $6 million, was named for U.S. Highway 31 which connects Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.
The Super PAC contracted with Bully Pulpit Interactive and Waterfront Strategies of Washington, DC to produce and distribute print and broadcast advertisements. The ads focused on the allegations, reported by the Washington Post and Alabama Media Group, that Moore had engaged in improper sexual behavior with teenage girls while he was an Assistant District Attorney in Etowah County in the 1970s. Highway 31 Super PAC also spent $2 million to partner with BlackPAC to encourage voter turnout.
The PAC was founded late in the campaign, and reported liabilities of $1,154,844.31, with no actual income or expenses, in its initial financial filing to the Federal Election Commission covering the period up to November 22. The amount trailed the $5.4 million spent by Jones' campaign, but exceeded the reported ad spending by Moore or any other PAC. Because its next public filing would not be due until January 2018, the organization would not be required to reveal its donors before the December 12 election. Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Center characterized the arrangement as a "shady scheme" to avoid disclosing its sources of funding. Eric Wang, a Republican campaign finance attorney who formerly worked at the Federal Election Commission, stated that such arrangements are not novel in political campaigns.
In early December, a video advertisement from Highway 31 was pulled off of YouTube.com and Google after complaints from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill that the message, "Your vote is public record and your community will know whether or not you helped stop Roy Moore." was misleading. A voter's appearance at the polls is recorded, but not their ballot choices.
The day before the special elections, POLITICO cited sources identifying the Senate Majority PAC and Priorities USA Action as backers of the Super PAC. That reporting was confirmed by Super PAC spokesman Chris Hayden in late December.
References
- Scherer, Michael (December 1, 2017) "Democratic group attacks Roy Moore without disclosing donors." The Washington Post
- Markay, Lachlan (December 1, 2017) "The Super PAC Attacking Roy Moore Won’t Disclose Its Donors Before the Vote." The Daily Beast
- Gattis, Paul (December 6, 2017) "Anti-Roy Moore ad removed from You Tube after complaints." The Birmingham News
- Debrenedetti, Gabriel (December 11, 2017) "Secret super PAC backing Jones in Alabama exposed." POLITICO
- Chandler, Kim (December 27, 2017) "Senate Majority PAC backed Jones’ winning Alabama campaign." Associated Press
External links
- Highway 31 website