Transparency and Campaign Spending in Minnesota, Report 4: Independent Expenditures on Federal Elections

Abstract

Independent expenditures by parties, groups, corporations, unions, associations and individuals are flooding Minnesota, flowing mainly to four U.S. House races. (Independent expenditures are made by groups and parties to support or oppose a candidate without any coordination with the candidates). More than $45 million was spent by independent expenditure groups. Republican U.S. House and U.S. Senate candidates are receiving nearly $3 million more than Democrats from independent expenditure groups. Most of the independent expenditures are spent on negative advertising. Nearly all of the money helping Republicans (94 percent) was spent attacking DFL candidates, while groups helping Democrats spent 68% attacking Republicans.