The six major business-backed spending groups have poured more than $2.6 million worth of independent expenditures into legislative races as of October 22. Campaign finance reports released today show that a national GOP political group has pumped more than half a million dollars this month in the bid to preserve GOP control of the Legislature.
Business-backed PACs continued their fundraising push in the late summer as the focus shifted from contested primaries to November's general election. Most of their spending was dedicated to supporting first-term Republican incumbents in swing districts.
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce officials have launched a new political action committee that is seeking corporate donations to influence state legislative races.
The Chamber's endorsement puts to rest speculation that the state's largest business group might endorse IP candidate Tom Horner.
In an unprecedented move, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's political action committee today has endorsed both the DFL and Republican candidates running in eastern Twin Cities District 56.
Following on our snapshot of MN Forward, the new post-Citizens United business political PAC, here's a look at how some other prominent business-related PACs are doing with their fundraising compared to the same reporting period in the 2008 and 2006 election cycles. (Remember, however, that this year's pre-primary reporting deadline is roughly one month earlier than in past cycles.)
