With six weeks to go until the presidential election, super PACs have already taken in $1.1 billion in donations, up from $846 billion in 2012, the first White House race in which they were allowed to function.
Approximately half of those funds have come from 62 wealthy benefactors, according to a USA Today analysis released Wednesday evening. The average large gift was $3 million, coming individuals, companies and unions. Donations to super PACs are unlimited, unlike contributions to campaigns themselves. But super PACs and campaigns are not supposed to coordinate.
Although Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has promised to advocate for a constitutional amendment to revoke the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision allowing super PACs, these groups have helped her and other Democrats this election season.
Priorities USA Action has raised $133 million this cycle, up from the $79 million it hauled in to help President Obama in 2012. Environmentalist billionaire Tom Steyer has given $38 million to super PACs, Democratic hedge fund manager Donald Sussman contributed $23 million.
