What Happened?
A super PAC is spending heavily to shape two U.S. Senate races, one in Mississippi and one in Michigan, through digital advertising and media production.
BlackPAC, a super PAC focused on mobilizing Black voters and advancing racial and economic justice, has directed $662,917 in outside spending toward two Democratic Senate candidates: Scott Colom in Mississippi and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. BlackPAC reported approximately $970,159 in receipts and $1.96 million in disbursements.
Why Does it Matter to Me?
BlackPAC, a super PAC that works to engage and mobilize Black communities, lists voting rights, criminal justice reform, police accountability, environmental justice, economic opportunity and equitable health care among its areas of focus.
Colom received the largest share, $411,018, while El-Sayed received $251,899. Nearly all of BlackPAC's reported funding, about 93 percent, came from two sources: Government That Works PAC contributed $500,000, and the 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Federal Political Action Fund contributed $400,000.
Both Sides, Now
BlackPAC, a super PAC focused on mobilizing Black voters and advancing racial and economic justice, reported spending on digital advertising and media production to support two Democratic Senate candidates, Scott Colom in Mississippi and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
Critics argue that large outside expenditures can undermine the independence that is supposed to separate super PACs from candidates. The Campaign Legal Center filed complaints alleging that two other super PACs coordinated more than $8 million with two Democratic Senate campaigns; those are allegations, not legal findings, and they concern those two other super PACs rather than BlackPAC.
As a super PAC, BlackPAC can raise and spend unlimited funds independently of candidates but cannot coordinate its independent expenditures with their campaigns. Congress has not passed new legislation restricting super PAC activity; the FEC enforces existing rules.
What Happens Next?
The $251,899 expenditure reported Sept. 30 for El-Sayed's race falls outside the periodic report cutoff and remains subject to reconciliation against BlackPAC's subsequent FEC filings. Because the Federal Election Commission's rapid-reporting data can contain original and amended transactions, the combined $662,917 figure remains subject to reconciliation against BlackPAC's later regular filings.
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