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In the politics of the United States, dark money refers to spending to influence elections where the source of the money is not disclosed to voters. In the United States, some types of nonprofit organizations may spend money on campaigns without disclosing who their donors are. The most common type of dark money group is the 501(c)(4). Such organizations can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals and unions. Proponents of dark money maintain it is protected under the First Amendment, while critics complain recipients of dark money "knows exactly who he owes a favor", but voters are kept in the dark about connections between donor and politician when favors are paid back.
Ronald Dion DeSantis is an American politician, attorney, and former military officer serving since 2019 as the 46th governor of Florida. A member of the Republican Party, DeSantis represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018.
The 2018 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. These midterm elections occurred during Republican Donald Trump's term. Democrats made a net gain of 41 seats in the United States House of Representatives, gaining a majority in the chamber and thereby ending the federal trifecta that the Republican Party had established in the 2016 elections. The Republican Party retained control of the United States Senate, making a net gain of two seats and defeating four Democratic incumbents in states that had voted for Trump in 2016. As a result of the 2018 elections, the 116th United States Congress became the first Congress since the 99th United States Congress in which the Democrats controlled the U.S. House of Representatives and the Republicans controlled the U.S. Senate.
FWD.us is a 501(c)(4) pro-immigration lobbying group based in the United States that advocates for prison reform, status for undocumented immigrants, particularly for DACA recipients, and higher levels of immigration visas, particularly for H-1B visas for foreign workers in STEM fields.
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The Federalist is an American conservative online magazine and podcast that covers politics, policy, culture, and religion, and publishes a newsletter. The site was co-founded by Ben Domenech and Sean Davis and launched in September 2013.
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Luis Enrique Monroy Bracamontes is a Mexican convicted murderer who killed two police officers in Northern California. On October 24, 2014, Bracamontes opened fire on three Northern California sheriff's deputies, killing two and wounding the third, while a civilian was also wounded in the shooting. Bracamontes is a citizen of Mexico and a convicted drug dealer who was in the United States illegally. Bracamontes was sentenced to death in 2018.
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Republican Accountability (RA), formerly Republican Accountability Project (RAP) and Republican Voters Against Trump (RVAT), is a political initiative launched in May 2020 by Defending Democracy Together for the 2020 U.S. presidential election cycle. The project was formed to produce a US$10 million advertising campaign focused on 100 testimonials by Republicans, conservatives, moderates, right-leaning independent voters, and former Trump voters explaining why they would not vote for Donald Trump in 2020. By August 2020, they had collected 500 testimonials.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund is a hub of undisclosed political spending on the American Left. The group serves as a fiscal sponsor for other organizations, incubating and financing various progressive projects. According to The New York Times, "The Sixteen Thirty is part of a broader network of progressive nonprofits that donors use to fill specific spaces on the political chessboard." The Sixteen Thirty Fund is administered by Arabella Advisors, a for-profit consulting firm.
Gene P. Hamilton is an American lawyer and policymaker who served within the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security during the presidency of Donald J. Trump. In these positions, he played key roles in ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, creating the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" family separation policy, and in revoking the Temporary Protected Status of immigrants from Sudan and South Sudan.
America First Policies is an organization created following the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017 to promote the America First policy agenda of his administration. It was founded by Trump campaign people including Nick Ayers, Rick Gates, and Brad Parscale.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Isenstadt, Alex (August 16, 2022). "Conservative nonprofit plans to spend millions bashing 'woke' left in midterms". Politico . Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- 1 2 3 Massoglia, Anna (September 15, 2022). "New 'dark money' group tied to former Trump officials launches provocative ads ahead of 2022 midterms". OpenSecrets . Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- 1 2 Bunch, Will (October 16, 2022). "Who's behind those vile, right-wing political TV ads during the baseball playoffs?". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- 1 2 Hiltzik, Michael (October 17, 2022). "Column: That unbelievably racist ad during the Dodgers playoff? Ex-Trump aides were behind it". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.