Independent Spending Surges in New York State Senate Campaigns

Today’s New York Times reports about the massive influx of independent expenditures being made by ‘super PACs’ in State Senate races this election season:

“Mirroring their rise in federal elections, the ‘super PACs’ are playing a larger role than ever in state races in New York. Outside groups have spent about $13 million this year in key Senate contests, records show, making them major players in races from Long Island to Buffalo that could determine the balance of power in the capital.”

It’s a good overview of the outside money dynamic, which is largely a new phenomenon in New York’s state-level races.

For a much more granular look at how money is flowing into these races, check out Chris Bragg’s articles at Crain’s New York Business. He has written about the League of Conservation Voters political action committee receiving money from the pro-Republican Real Estate board of NY (REBNY) and the pro-Democratic teachers’ union, a progressive super PAC spending on behalf of Democrats, and the use of the county party committees to funnel donations through. (The Daily News broke this story earlier this week.)

With respect to the use of county party committees, the role of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been questioned. The Putnam County Republican Chairman has filed a complaint with the state Board of Elections, saying that the Putnam County Democratic Committee “appears to be engaging in a pattern of soliciting or receiving donations well in excess of the $10,300 limit for the express purpose of assisting Friends of Justin Wagner, a state Senate candidate and Friends of Terry Gipson, also a state Senate candidate.”

Gov. Cuomo was asked about the influx of outside money in state races during a radio interview this morning. He called the “unregulated, unrestricted flow of money through these independent expenditure committees” the major problem in campaign finance today. He also said that