{"id":2359890,"date":"2024-10-26T07:19:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-26T11:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-enjoys-more-dark-money-support-than-trump\/"},"modified":"2024-10-26T07:20:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-26T11:20:38","slug":"kamala-harris-enjoys-more-dark-money-support-than-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-enjoys-more-dark-money-support-than-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Kamala Harris enjoys more &#8216;dark money&#8217; support than Trump &#8211;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkamala-harris-enjoys-more-dark-money-support-than-trump%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2359890&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article \u200bdiscusses the significant financial backing\u2063 that Vice President Kamala Harris is\u2064 receiving from &#8220;dark money&#8221; groups \u200bin comparison to former President Donald Trump ahead of\u2062 the 2024 elections. Federal Election Commission\u2063 filings show that Harris \u2062is supported by such groups at a rate\u2064 eight times higher than Trump. This backing largely comes from super PACs, \u200dwhich can raise\u2064 and spend unlimited funds, \u200doften without disclosing their\u200b donors due to their \u200caffiliation with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-house-republicans-call-for-answers-from-texas-elections-administrator-over-private-funding-for-elections\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans Call For Answers From Texas Elections Administrator Over Private Funding For Elections\">tax-exempt organizations<\/a> under section 501(c)(4) of the IRS code.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Beckel from the \u2063transparency watchdog\u200c group Issue One\u2062 expressed concerns about the\u200c anonymity of \u2063Dark Money contributions,\u200b which\u2063 allow \u2064wealthy individuals \u200bto influence elections\u200d without public scrutiny. The\u200c article highlights\u2062 how these funding channels have been bolstered by various notable figures, including a recent undisclosed\u200b $50 million donation from \u2062Bill \u2062Gates \u200cto \u2064Future Forward, a major super PAC supporting Harris. Other organizations, including environmental and political action groups,\u200c are also contributing to her campaign. <\/p>\n<p>the findings underline the growing concern around the influence of undisclosed\u200d financial contributions in American politics, particularly as the election approaches.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kamala Harris enjoys far more &lsquo;dark money&rsquo; support than Donald Trump<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1845504\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democrats<\/a> have long criticized &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dark-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">dark money<\/a>&rdquo; in American <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/politics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">politics<\/a>, raising concerns over <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">billionaires anonymously exerting sizable influence<\/a> over elections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Federal records, however, show groups that don&rsquo;t disclose their donors are supporting Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris\">Kamala Harris<\/a> in far greater numbers than former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris\">Donald Trump<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Harris, who has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3179215\/kamala-harris-influential-megadonors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">massive cash advantage<\/a> ahead of Election Day, is being boosted eight times more by dark money groups than Trump is, Federal Election Commission filings show. Organizations in this category include dozens of super PACs responsible for almost 90% of spending this election cycle on independent expenditures supporting targeting Trump or Harris, according to an <a href=\"https:\/\/readsludge.com\/2024\/10\/23\/harris-backed-by-9-6x-more-dark-money-than-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">analysis<\/a> by <em>Sludge<\/em>, a website tracking money in politics.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/2024-election-campaign-live-updates-harris-trump\/\"><strong>2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The public has a right to know who is trying to influence their votes and who is trying to curry favor with political candidates through large contributions to outside groups like super PACs and dark money groups,&rdquo; said Michael Beckel, the research director for a transparency watchdog group called Issue One. &ldquo;Wealthy special interests can use dark money contributions to help ingratiate themselves with their preferred candidate without any public scrutiny.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to boost candidates, often through disbursements on advertising. Following a flurry of Supreme Court decisions over the last several decades, super PACs have become a staple in American politics, breaking new barriers each election cycle to back candidates with hundreds of millions of dollars from their, in part, anonymous-backed war chests.<\/p>\n<p>That&rsquo;s because super PACs often receive large transfers from nonprofit organizations that are affiliated with them and registered under 501(c)(4), a section of the IRS code that allows &ldquo;social welfare&rdquo; groups to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-non-profit-rejected-for-tax-exempt-status-by-irs-bibles-teachings-affiliated-with-the-republican-party\/\" title=\"Christian Non-Profit Rejected For Tax-Exempt Status By IRS: \u2018Bible\u2019s Teachings \u2026 Affiliated With The Republican Party\u2019\">receive tax-exempt status<\/a> and not disclose their donors. In 2024, the biggest super PAC in politics is Future Forward, which is supporting Harris through ads, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3179215\/kamala-harris-influential-megadonors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">is bankrolled by the ultra-wealthy<\/a>, and has a tax-exempt arm registered in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p>Future Forward&rsquo;s nonprofit arm has shuffled over $130 million since 2018 to its super PAC affiliate, which counts some of its own donors as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3196838\/billionaires-anti-israel-network-democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">philanthropist George Soros<\/a>, and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. However, funding that goes to Future Forward&rsquo;s nonprofit group is difficult, and often impossible, to fully trace due to a lack of federal laws requiring disclosure.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, right. Harris, who has a massive cash advantage ahead of Election Day, is being boosted to the tune of eight times more by dark money groups, Federal Election Commission filings show. (AP News)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That reality took a turn in one respect this week upon the <em>New York Times<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/10\/22\/us\/elections\/bill-gates-future-forward-kamala-harris.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reporting<\/a> that Bill Gates privately steered $50 million to Future Forward&rsquo;s nonprofit arm. The leaked cash infusion to help Harris, the outlet said, &ldquo;will never appear on any public filing&rdquo; and &ldquo;was meant to stay under wraps.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving healthcare, reducing poverty, and fighting climate change in the U.S. and around the world,&rdquo; Gates told the outlet. &ldquo;I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different, with unprecedented significance for Americans and the most vulnerable people around the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Harris, who is polling neck-and-neck with Trump, is also being boosted heavily by the League of Conservation Voters environmental group, the left-wing American Bridge 21st Century PAC, and other dark money groups, filings show. <\/p>\n<p>She has <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KamalaHarris\/status\/1102375748776673280\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> dark money is &ldquo;manipulating the election process,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KamalaHarris\/status\/1156759721078087681\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">declaring<\/a> previously, &ldquo;Trump has megadonors, huge corporations, and dark-money PACs willing to cut blank checks to buy him four more years in power. We have you.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>As far as Trump, the former president is being supported by super PACs that have raised around $23.2 million from dark money groups, <em>Sludge<\/em> found. <\/p>\n<p>Those include Building America&rsquo;s Future, Restoration of America, and others, the outlet said. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump, separately, is being boosted by a super PAC launched by X owner Elon Musk <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3200814\/doj-warns-elon-musk-giveaway-illegal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">that faced scrutiny <\/a>this week from the Justice Department over its $1 million giveaway to registered voters. Musk said random voters who signed his super PAC&rsquo;s petition supporting the U.S. Constitution would be awarded the money.<\/p>\n<p>The Harris and Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1845504\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1845504\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kamala Harris receives significantly more &#8216;dark money&#8217; support than Donald Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":2359891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Kamala-Harris-polls-turnout.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[33926,27910,32438,33642,3634],"class_list":["post-2359890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-campaign-finance","tag-dark-money","tag-kamala-harris","tag-political-funding","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Kamala-Harris-polls-turnout.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2359890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359890\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2359891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2359890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2359890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2359890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}