But federal records show groups that don’t disclose their donors support the Vice President Kamala Harris many more than the former President. Donald Trump In 2024.

Harris has big cash advantage Federal Election Commission records show he was eight times more endorsed by dark money groups than Trump ahead of Election Day. Organizations in this category include dozens of super PACs, which are responsible for nearly 90% of spending on independents supporting targeting Trump or Harris this election cycle, according to one study. analysis with MudA website that tracks money in politics.

2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE

“The public has a right to know who is trying to influence their votes and who is trying to curry favor with political candidates by making large contributions to outside groups like super PACs and dark money groups,” said Michael Beckel, Transparency research director. Observer group called Number One. “Wealthy special interests can use dark money contributions to curry favor with their preferred candidate without any public scrutiny.”

Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support candidates, often through advertising payments. In the wake of Supreme Court decisions over the past few decades, super PACs have become a staple of American politics, overcoming new hurdles each election cycle to support candidates with hundreds of millions of dollars from partially anonymously sponsored war chests.

That’s because super PACs are often larger than the nonprofit organizations affiliated with them that are registered under 501(c)(4), a section of the IRS code that allows “social welfare” groups to obtain tax-exempt status and not disclose their information. receiving transfers. donors. The largest super PAC in politics in 2024 is Future Forward, which supports Harris with ads. financed by the ultra-richand has a tax-exempt branch in Washington, D.C.

Future Forward’s nonprofit arm has funneled more than $130 million since 2018 to its super PAC affiliate, which counts some of its own donors as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. philanthropist George Sorosand Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. However, the funding going to Future Forward’s nonprofit group is difficult and often impossible to track precisely due to the lack of federal laws requiring disclosure.

That reality changed in one respect this week New York Times reporting Bill Gates privately poured $50 million into the non-profit arm of Future Forward. The source said the cash flow leaked to help Harris “will never appear in public records” and “must remain private.”

“I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving health care, reducing poverty, and combating climate change in the United States and around the world,” Gates said in a statement to the press. “I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different; it has unprecedented importance for Americans and the most vulnerable people in the world.”

Filings show that Harris, who voted neck and neck with Trump, was also heavily supported by the environmental group League of Conservation Voters, the left-wing American Bridge 21st Century PAC and other dark money groups.

His in question Dark money “manipulating the election process” declare Previously, “Trump has mega donors, giant corporations, and dark money PACs ready to cut him a blank check to give him four more years in power. We have you.

According to Trump, the former president is backed by super PACs that have raised nearly $23.2 million from dark money groups. Mud to create.

These include Building America’s Future, Restoration of America, and others, the release stated.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump is also boosted by a super PAC launched by X owner Elon Musk facing scrutiny More than $1 million in gifts to registered voters from the Department of Justice this week. Musk said money would be given to random voters who signed the super PAC’s petition supporting the U.S. Constitution.

Harris and Trump’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.