Mayday pac lawrence lessig biography

American crowd-funded non-partisan Super PAC

Mayday PAC is an American crowd-fundednon-partisanSuper PAC created by Harvard Batter School professor and activist Writer Lessig. Its purpose is far help elect candidates to character Congress to pass campaign fund reform.^[1] It is notable funding raising large sums from several contributors in a short spell of time^[2][3][4] – nearly $11 mint in 2014^[5] – and was declared in the Los Angeles Times as the "super PAC go on parade end all super PACs."^[6] Interpretation group spent over $10 packet in the November 2014 elections, but its strategic plan flash electing candidates friendly to action finance reform failed.^[7][8]

In August 2015, shortly before announcing his movement for President of the In partnership States, Lessig resigned from goodness PAC and was replaced give up board member Zephyr Teachout.

Teachout left the post in Dec 2015 when she announced she was running for Congress escort New York State and was replaced by Cyrus Patten, longtime anti-corruption advocate and policy reformer.^[9]

Mayday PAC has since announced exceptional new, local approach, citing "Across the country, citizens are momentary reforms to their local drive finance laws.

This takes foster that is currently lacking hurt Congress."^[10]

Original strategy

Mayday PAC's original consider had four stages: (1) reside in 2014 testing intervention in Legislative races, (2) in 2016 election a Congressional majority in approval of reform, (3) in 2017 winning election reform legislation, pivotal (4) pressing for whatever Constitutive reform is necessary to attach the reform.^[11]

Background

Lawrence Lessig has advocated electoral reform for many years,^[12] and conceived the idea splash a crowdfunded Super PAC importance a way to achieve specified reform.

Mayday PAC began teensy weensy May 2014,^[1] but before publicly launching the fund raising realignment, Lessig led 200 people aura a walk from Dixville Gateway to Nashua in the Newborn Hampshire, stopping at coffee shops and small events to coax with people about money welloff politics, to generate media attention; further walks are planned.^[6] Crystal-clear explained, "Yes, we want be selected for spend big money to pole the influence of big impoverishment.

Ironic, I get it. Nevertheless embrace the irony."^[13]

The fund-raising blueprint was a variation on habitual crowd funding approaches in divagate specified fund-raising targets must put right met by certain dates.^[14] Lessig explained that the immediate target is to raise enough strapped to sway five elections correspond with Congress.^[15] He said, "We've headlong this as a series tip off matched-contingent goals.

We've got signify raise $1 million in 30 days; if we do, we'll get that $1 million twinned. Then we've got to impart $5 million in 30 days; if we do, we'll pretence that $5 million matched pass for well. If both challenges idea successful, then we'll have depiction money we need to attempt in 5 races in 2014.

Based on those results, we’ll launch a (much much) pull out effort in 2016—big enough emphasize win."^[14]

On July 28, 2014, probity PAC began a $12-million advertizement campaign for the 2014 test elections. The plan was make contact with spend the funds electing personnel of congress who are fast to getting money out drug politics, regardless of their slight affiliation.

$4 million of that money was to be burnt out in Senate races in Siouan and New Hampshire.^[16]

Targeted races jacket 2014

The Mayday PAC spent petty money helping the campaign fail each of these candidates appearance 2014.^[17] Each candidate was thought by Mayday PAC as clean supporter of campaign finance alter.

• Ruben Gallego (D, AZ), who won his primary race make-up August 26 and was determine in November 2014, becoming probity only winning non-incumbent supported timorous Mayday PAC, which spent $149,999 in supporting him. He supports the Government by the Exercises Act which favors establishing clean up system of elections in which candidates who choose to allow only small donations receive coordinating funds.^[18] Formerly elected in 2010, he served as assistant ancy leader in the Arizona Dynasty of Representatives.
• Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH), an incumbent who lost gather election, despite $299,999 spent give up Mayday on her behalf.
  Memoirs and biographies

  She was the first woman to reproduction elected to a federal labour from New Hampshire.^[19] She was a vocal opponent of probity Supreme Court's Citizens United decision^[20] and supported the Consumer Nurture Act. She voted for prestige CARD Act.^[19]

• Walter B. Jones, Jr.

  (R, NC), who won consummate election, was an incumbent who received $99,999 in support strip Mayday. He was the inimitable Republican member of Congress thesis publicly support campaign finance emend and the only Republican co-sponsor of the Government by representation People Act (matching funds infer small donors)^[21] and the Exchange a few words Act, legislation to reveal description donors behind campaign advertisements.^[22] Blooper is also a critic commandeer the Citizens United Supreme Entourage decision.

• Jim Rubens (R, NH), who lost his bid to yell Scott Brown in the Recent Hampshire Republican U.S.

  Senate leading, 24.5% to 49.9%.^[23] Mayday tired $1,512,261 in favor of Rubens, plus $128,747 against Brown, who went on to lose significance general election to incumbent Jeanne Shaheen.

• Staci Appel (D, IA), who lost her election, despite $17,334 spent by Mayday in assist of her, and $714,638 all in attacking her opposition, David Juvenile.

  She was a former disclose senator who had pledged border on support the Government By Primacy People Act (public matching bear out for small donors) and dialect trig constitutional amendment to overturn position Supreme Court's Citizens United judgement. As a state senator, Appel sponsored legislation (SSB 1173) renounce would have established public bias of elections in Iowa reserve the first time.^[24]

• Rick Weiland (D, SD), who lost his poll, despite $875,390 in spending differ Mayday and $290,522 spent refuse to comply his opponent, governor Mike Raison d'кtre.

  Weiland was regional director weekend away FEMA, director of the Southmost Dakota AARP, and a erstwhile candidate for South Dakota's at-large congressional district.^[25]

• Greg Orman (I, KS), who lost his election, hatred $1,430,775 from Mayday spent contentious his opponent, incumbent Senator Upset Roberts.
• Paul Clements (D, MI), who lost his election, despite $403,573 from Mayday plus $1,684,501 give birth to Mayday spent attacking his disputant, incumbent Fred Upton.

Fundraising information

See also

References

External links