National groups spend millions to affect Iowa Senate race

DES MOINES — They are responsible for many of the campaign ads on your television and the fliers in your mailbox.

They are spending millions of dollars in an attempt to influence your vote and the outcome of Iowa's U.S. Senate race.

Who are they? And what do they stand to gain?

As of this past Thursday, with 19 days remaining before Election Day, outside groups — organizations not directly related to the candidates — have spent more than $37 million on Iowa's Senate race.

Each group has a horse in the race, which has proved to be a horse race.

Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst are the major party candidates seeking Iowa's U.S. Senate seat being vacated by longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, who is retiring. Most polls have shown the race too close to call.

The race features Iowa's first open U.S. Senate seat in decades, and it could help determine which party controls the chamber nationally. It has garnered international media attention.

With so much at stake, special interest groups have poured extensive resources into the race, which is running neck-and-neck with Kentucky's as the second-most expensive in the nation. The money these groups spend goes toward literature, grass roots operations on the ground in Iowa and, of course, those television ads.

But all of that money comes at a price, a national political expert said.

'Whoever wins, they're going to have had millions of dollars spent for them, and they're going to remember those favors. …

That's not to say they're bad people or corrupt,' said Ian Vandewalker of the New York University School of Law's Brennan Center.

'But it's human nature to know who spent money for you or who spent money against you.'

Vandewalker serves as counsel for the Brennan Center's Democracy Program, where he works on voting rights and campaign finance reform.

'That's exactly why these groups are spending money — because they want to control policy in Washington, and this outside spending allows that to happen,' Vandewalker said.

'Whoever wins will have had big money behind them. …

The question is, what does that buy those spenders? Does it buy them access normal voters don't have? Does it buy them legislation?'

Voters are inundated with information from outside groups, but all the voters know of the groups is what's in the small print.

So who are these groups? Why are they so invested in Iowa's U.S. Senate race?

For this report, The Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau used official campaign finance records from the Federal Election Commission website as well as FEC data compiled by the not-for-profit government watchdog agencies Sunlight Foundation and Center for Responsive Politics.

Even that data is not all-inclusive. Groups that air issue advocacy ads — ads that advocate for an issue, not a candidate — face less stringent reporting requirements, and thus their spending is more difficult to track.

For example, research by Iowa media — including The Gazette and Lee Enterprises — determined Concerned Veterans for America and Americans for Prosperity — two organizations funded by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch from Kansas — by mid-September had spent a combined $2.1 million advertising against Braley.

DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

How much it has spent in Iowa: $6,637,362

Who it is: An official party political action committee, the DSCC is operated by national Democrats. Its leadership includes U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader; and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado. Its executive director is political operative Guy Cecil.

Whom it supports in Iowa: Braley

What it stands to gain: Democrats are trying desperately to maintain their advantage in the U.S. Senate. Losing likely would put control of both chambers of the U.S. Capitol under Republican rule.

Its ads: The committee has produced many ads attacking Ernst. One highlighted her support for a state resolution giving human embryos the right to life at conception. The ad — and Ernst's detractors — say if made into law, the resolution would make illegal all forms of abortion and some common forms of birth control.

Top donors: Individuals may give no more than $32,400 to a national party committee in a calendar year.

Top donor industries: Donations of less than $200 to federal candidates do not require the donor's personal information. Because a significant share — 36 percent — of donations to this group were less than $200, information on donors' related industries is incomplete.

AMERICAN CROSSROADS

How much it has spent in Iowa: $4,228,502

Who it is: The Super PAC was started in 2010 by Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, prominent figures among President George W. Bush's top staff. American Crossroads spent more than $100 million in the 2012 elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Crossroads' current president and chief executive officer is Steven Law, who served in George W. Bush's cabinet and is a former chief legal officer and general counsel of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Whom it supports in Iowa: Ernst

What it stands to gain: Almost without exception, American Crossroads works for the election of Republican candidates. On its website, the organization says it promotes people 'who have the courage, integrity and good ideas to get this country back on track' and who 'are willing to stand up for families, small businesses and communities against arrogant, power-grabbing politicians and wealthy government unions.'

Its ads: Crossroads has aired numerous ads attacking Braley. One claimed he threatened to sue a neighbor over her chickens wandering onto his property, an accusation that Braley denied and was rated false by the nonpartisan national fact-checking agency PolitiFact.

Top donors: Jerrold Perenchio, Los Angeles, $2 million; Paul Singer, New York City, $1.4 million; Contran Corp., Dallas, $1 million; JWC III Revocable Trust, Tulsa, Okla., $1 million

Top donor industries: Securities and investment, business services, oil and gas, mining, chemical and related manufacturing

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE

How much it has spent in Iowa: $4,056,159

Who it is: Just as with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is a Party PAC. Its leaders are U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rob Portman, Ohio, and Ted Cruz, Texas.

Who it supports in Iowa: Ernst

What it stands to gain: The committee operates for the sole purpose of getting Republicans elected to the U.S. Senate, and Republicans have a shot at gaining control of the chamber.

Its ads: Ads produced by the committee attack Braley on health care, foreign policy and immigration. One ad reminds voters of Braley's support for the new federal health care law and repeats an oft-cited, repeatedly debunked claim that the law cut more than $700 billion from Medicare. Another ad criticizes Braley's vote to end military operations on the ground in Iraq.

Top donors: Individuals may give no more than $32,400 to a national party committee in a calendar year.

Top donor industries: Donations of less than $200 to federal candidates do not require the donor's personal information. Because a significant share — 25 percent — of donations to this group were less than that amount, information on donors' related industries is incomplete.

SENATE MAJORITY PAC

How much it has spent in Iowa: $3,282,946

Who it is: The Super PAC was formed in 2011 by a trio of Democratic operatives — former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee executive director Jim Jordan, former Vice President Al Gore aide Monica Dixon and Jeff Forbes. Two top committee staff have ties to Sen. Reid — former campaign strategist Rebecca Lambe and former chief of staff Susan McCue. Its chief financier this year has been billionaire California environmentalist Tom Steyer, who gave $5 million of his own money and $5 million from his own PAC, NextGen Climate Action.

Who it supports in Iowa: Braley

What it stands to gain: The Senate Majority PAC's creation was a de facto response to American Crossroads. On its website, Senate Majority PAC says Rove and his friends in 2012 tried to 'buy the Senate.'

Its ads: Senate Majority PAC's ads in Iowa's Senate race have sought to tie Ernst to billionaire industrialists and conservative donors from Kansas, Charles and David Koch — aka the Koch brothers.

Top donors: Fred Eychaner, Chicago, $5 million; NextGen Climate Action Committee, Washington, D.C., $5 million; Tom Steyer, San Francisco, $5 million; Michael Bloomberg, New York City, $2.5 million; James Simons, also New York City, $2 million; Elizabeth Simons, San Francisco, $900,000.

Top donor industries: Finance, environment, printing and publishing, building trade unions, public-sector unions, and securities, investment and law firms

NEXTGEN CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE

How much it has spent in Iowa: $2,492,774

Who it is: Founded by Tom Steyer, NextGen Climate Action supports candidates who 'will take bold action on climate change,' according to its website.

Who it supports in Iowa: Braley

What it stands to gain: In Braley, NextGen Climate sees an ally in its mission to promote legislative responses to climate change. The organization also is more likely to foster legislative action if Democrats control the Senate.

Its ads: NextGen Climate's ads criticize Ernst for her unwillingness to fully embrace human-made climate change and for her alleged ties to the Koch brothers. Ernst's campaign called on television stations to stop playing one of the ads, which she said distorted her position on a federal rule on the amount of ethanol required to be used in the nation's fuel supply.

Ernst has said that although she philosophically opposes federal energy subsidies, she supports the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Top donors: Founder Tom Steyer, San Francisco, $40.9 million; Herbert Sandler, San Francisco, $1 million

Top donor industries: Environment, non-profit institutions

FREEDOM PARTNERS ACTION FUND

How much it has spent in Iowa: $1,986,851

Who it is: The first big donation — a half-million dollars — to this group came from Ron Cameron's Arkansas-based agribusiness giant Mountaire Corp. Cameron has donated money to the Koch brothers' political efforts, and three of Freedom Partners's five board members are or previously were high-ranking officials for Koch Industries.

Who it supports in Iowa: Ernst

What it stands to gain: Koch Industries is the second-largest privately held company in the nation, according to Forbes. Its many subsidiaries are involved in petroleum refining, oil, fertilizer, agriculture and paper. The company is most active lobbying the federal government on energy-related issues, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Its ads: Two ads produced by Freedom Partners show Iowa residents criticizing Braley for his low attendance record at meetings of the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Top donors: Mountaire Corp., Little Rock, Ark., $500,000

Top donor industries: Agribusiness

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

How much it has spent in Iowa: $1,813,816

Who it is: The chamber says it is 'the world's largest business organization representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions.'

Who it supports in Iowa: Ernst

What it stands to gain: The chamber supports candidates who it thinks will best represent the interests of businesses nationwide. The chamber advocates for tax and entitlement reform, reduced regulations, free trade and medical tort reform, among many others.

Its ads: Separate ads by the chamber show Iowa's Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and Republican Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey expressing their support for Ernst. They are rare positive ads produced by an outside group in the race. They are complimentary of Ernst and do not criticize — or even mention — Braley.

Top donors/donor industries: This group does not disclose its donors to the FEC.

NRA AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND

How much it has spent in Iowa: $1,349,871

Who it is: The Political Victory Fund is the National Rifle Association's political arm. Its chairman is Chris Cox, who wears many hats with the NRA, including as its chief Washington, D.C., lobbyist and political strategist.

Who it supports in Iowa: Ernst

What it stands to gain: The NRA supports candidates who 'will recognize that 'gun control' schemes are an infringement on the Second Amendment and a proven failure in fighting crime,' according to the Victory Fund's website. The group almost exclusively supports Republicans, and Ernst says she is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment.

Its ads: NRA ads have accused Braley of voting to take away gun rights and aligning with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a prominent gun-control advocate.

Top donors/donor industries: Donations of less than $200 to federal candidates do not require the donor's personal information. Because the vast majority — 87 percent — of donations to this group were less than that amount, information on neither the top donors nor their related industries is complete.

HONORABLE MENTION

Other groups that have spent more than $1 million on Iowa's U.S. Senate race:

l League of Conservation Voters: $1,169,289

l Priorities for Iowa Political Fund: $1,014,209

l Sierra Club Independent Action: $1,000,576.

The big numbers:

• Outside spending in support of Joni Ernst: $8.6 million

• Outside spending against Joni Ernst: $16 million

• Outside spending in support of Bruce Braley: $1.1 million

• Outside spending against Bruce Braley: $11.3 million

• Total outside spending for Ernst/against Braley: $19.9 million

• Total outside spending for Braley/against Ernst: $17.1 million

• Source: Sunlight Foundation, as of Thursday, Oct. 16