The Scale of Billionaires’ Campaign Donations is Overwhelming U.S. Politics
From The New York Times: Analysis by The New York Times has found that 19% of all contributions in federal elections in 2024 were made by just 300 billionaires and their families (that’s less than 0.0001% of the US population), totalling more than $3 billion. In 2010, before the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, billionaire spending made up 0.3% of federal campaign spending.
AI, crypto industries dump millions into Illinois primaries to mixed results
From CNBC: Fairshake, a major cryptocurrency Super PAC backed by crypto exchange Coinbase, blockchain tech company Ripple Labs, and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, spent more than $10 million opposing Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who won the Democratic Senate primary. The PAC also spent on several House races, seeing two of their backed candidates win and two of them lose. An AI PAC, Leading the Future, was also involved in several IL primaries. This echoes the primary elections in North Carolina, where crypto and AI PACs were also active in trying to influence elections to shape regulation of their industries.
Millions in the mailbox: Why both parties are still spending huge sums on traditional mail
From the OpenSecrets: Although political campaigns are relying more heavily on digital platforms for advertising and fundraising, political parties still spend tens of millions of dollars on physical advertisements. In the 2024 election cycle, the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee spent more than $87 million in total on printing and mailing, while their House and Senate-specific campaign arms spent between $18 and $22 million each. Campaigns still rely on direct mail to target and turn out older voters, who are more likely to read their mail and more likely to vote and donate to campaigns.
How Candidates Are Using Winks and Posts to Seek Crypto and A.I. Cash
From The New York Times: Candidates are finding ways to signal their support for crypto and AI policies that will earn them support from those industries, which have invested nearly $250 million into Super PACs planning to influence the 2026 midterms. Candidates are using their websites and social media posts to show support for those industries, often using opaque terms like “blockchain-based assets” or similar industry terms. Good-government advocates are opposed to this practice, claiming that candidates are using their online platforms to signal to wealthy industries rather than persuade voters.
