When Harvard Law School professor, Lawrence Lessig, proposed a “crowdfunded, kickstarted, super PAC to end ALL super PACs” earlier this year, most people, politicians in Washington especially, scoffed at the irony of such a plan. His mission was simple, if not a bit counter-intuitive: build a super PAC to destroy all super PACs, huge political action committees designed to allow for unlimited campaign contributions from individuals, corporations, associations, and unions. Lessig’s proposed Mayday PAC (mayday.us) was launched with a $5 million goal for the first wave of reformers in the 2014 election. By the end of June they had raised just over $2.1 million, and it was looking grim for the social experiment of buying an election to fix the problem of buying elections. However, as word spread, the contributions swiftly poured in and Mayday PAC quickly exceeded it’s crowdsourced fundraising expectations.
Left or right, it doesn’t matter what side. People are skeptical of government because they see money dominating what government does.”
Mayday PAC has announced it’s first 5 candidates for the 2014 midterm elections, and expects to announce 3 more candidates shortly. The first 5 candidates to receive Mayday PAC funding for their campaigns are:
- Carol Shea-Porter (D) NH-01
- Walter Jones (R) NC-3
- Ruben Gallego (D) AZ-7 Primary
- Jim Rubens (R) NH Senate Primary
- Staci Appel (D) IA-03
These candidates are long time supporters of legislation that would put an end to big money in politics. No hints were given as to the next 3 candidates identities.
Mayday PAC plans to use the lessons learned to get a large slate of candidates into office in 2016, with the aim of 218 in the House of Representatives and 60 in the Senate. A growing movement is pushing back against the outside groups that has proliferated since the 2010 Citizens United decision by the US Supreme Court, which opened the door to unlimited spending by unions and corporations in political races. With the national mood showing a strong distaste for Congress and politics, Mayday PAC candidates may show strong potential at winning their respective seats and laying the groundwork for their 2016 goals.
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