By The Illinois Public Interest Research Group
Candidates in the 2016 Cook County State’s Attorney Democratic primary race would see a dramatic shift in fundraising focus under a proposed small donor matching program, according to a study released Tuesday by the Illinois PIRG Education Fund.
Using year-end fundraising data, the report examines the impact of a program that matches small contributions from constituents with limited public funds for candidates who agree not to accept large donations.
“From governor to state representative to alderman, constituents making small contributions are playing an increasingly small role in financing political campaigns in Illinois” said Abe Scarr, Illinois PIRG Education Fund Director.
“This study shows that we can do something about it. Small donor programs would turn big money politics on its head, putting everyday Americans at the center of campaigns instead of deep pocketed donors.”
Illinois PIRG Education Fund’s study examines the impact of a small donor matching system similar to those proposed in Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin’s Fair Elections Now Act and the Chicago Fair Elections Ordinance, introduced in January, which proposes a program that would match small contributions with public funds at a rate of six-to-one and establish lower maximum contribution limits for participating candidates.
Key findings from the report include:
- Without a small donor matching system, candidates received only 4% of the campaign funds from donors giving under $150. If all candidates participated, 84% of campaign funds would come from donors giving $150 or less, along with corresponding matching funds.
- Currently, 46% of all candidate funds have come from individuals who do not live in Cook County, corporations and other campaign committees. Under a small donor program that still allowed for contributions from those sources, but capped the amount participating candidates could accept, only 16% of all candidate funds would come from those sources.
- At the end of the last full reporting period, incumbent Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez had a fundraising lead of $142,000 over chief challenger Kim Foxx. If both participated in a small donor matching program, Foxx would lead Alvarez by $210,000. This is because, while Foxx has raised less money under the current system, she has done so from a wider pool of donors. If Foxx participated but Alvarez did not, Foxx would still have an advantage of $40,000.
- In order to fare as well as they would by not opting to participate in a small donor matching program, Alvarez would need to increase her small donor fundraising by 45%. Challenger Donna More would need to increase her small donor fundraising by 255%.
Seventy-two percent of Americans – a broad, bipartisan majority – support small donor solutions to overhaul the current campaign finance system, according to a poll released in December.
Small donor matching programs have a track record of success. New York City’s program allowed participating candidates in the 2013 city council race to raise 61 percent of their contributions from small donations and matching funds. That year, 92 percent of candidates running in the primary participated in the program.
And in November, voters in Maine and Seattle passed ballot initiatives to create and strengthen their own small donor empowerment programs.
In 2016, voters and lawmakers have an opportunity to enact similar reforms in states and cities across the country, including in Chicago, where on January 13th Alds. Joe Moore, Michelle Harris and John Arena introduced the Fair Elections Ordinance, which would create a small donor program for Chicago Elections.
“Our campaign finance system is broken. Voters know it, candidates know it, and it is time we do something about it.” said Scarr. “This study demonstrates the promise of a small donor empowerment program that would put regular voters in control of our elections.”
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Previously:
* The Secret Money Machine.
* lllinois’ Top Campaign Corrupters.
* Illinois: The King Of Dark Money.
* Rahm Biggest Campaign Fund Cheater; Used Loopholes To Keep Donations Secret.
* Former Illinois Congressional Candidate Sues IRS In Quest To Bar Political Ads Funded By Dark Money Groups.
* Your Government Now Brought To You By 1% Of The 1%.
* A Few Rich People Vs. The Rest Of Us In Illinois’ Governor’s Race.
* 17 Mega-Donors Vs. Everyone Else.
* Rapid Rise In Super PACs Dominated By Single Donors.
* Chicago Mayoral Election Dominated By Big, Out Of Town Money.
* Big Money Dominated Chicago Mayoral Elections.
* New Study Shows Potential Impact Of A Small Donor Matching Program On 2016 Presidential Race.
* TV Ads To Illinois U.S. Senate Candidates: Knock It Off.
* Which 2016 Presidential Candidates Would Win And Lose Under A Small Donor Matching Program?
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Comments welcome.
Posted on February 17, 2016