Anti-dark money Democrats were boosted in midterm elections by Biden-allied group with dark money ties

A Biden-allied climate group that has ties to a left-wing dark money group called Fund for a Better Future boosted several House Democrats who have criticized “dark money” in politics during the midterm elections, according to the Washington Examiner. The Democrats raised concerns over its influence on politics and co-sponsored legislation that aims for more transparency in campaign spending. They received ads and mailing services support from a super PAC affiliated with Climate Power, a project of Fund for a Better Future.

Climate Power Action, linked to Climate Power, spent over $800,000 supporting 10 House Democrats who co-sponsored the DISCLOSE Act to target “dark money” in elections. But Climate Power Action is also connected to a 501(c)(4) nonprofit group called Fund for a Better Future, which does not have to disclose its donors, according to its website. The super PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission toward the end of June 2022. Between August 2022 and September 2022, it shelled out around $46,000 to support Chris Pappas through independent expenditures.

The Fund for a Better Future has received over $71 million since 2016 from the Berger Action Fund, a dark money advocacy group affiliated with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss’s private foundation, Wyss Foundation, which is barred from donating directly to political committees and candidates. Tax forms show that it has donated to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the advocacy arm of the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, where Wyss sits as a board member.

Meanwhile, the Super PAC of Fund for a Better Future called Climate Power Action backed Kim Schrier, who warned against “dark money,” worth almost $77,000 in independent expenditures. The PAC also spent almost $120,000 supporting Abigail Spanberger, who also focused on “rooting out dark money.”

While dark money has been criticized for eroding democracy, it seems that the campaign financing world continues to be hypocritical. David O’Brien, policy director for RepresentUs, a nonpartisan ethics watchdog, said that even if one cares about the issue, they must engage with the system to some level, and everybody makes compromises. And that is the issue with the current system, according to him.

The campaigns for the 10 House Democrats declined to comment, while Fund for a Better Future refused to issue any statement.

You can click here to get more details from the Washington Examiner.