Political action groups raised nearly $400 million in 2015, nine times more than the groups’ $48 million in its 2011 debut, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis of Federal Election Commission numbers released Monday.
Fundraising by super PACs significantly outpaced individual donations to presidential campaigns last year. The groups brought in nearly half of the collective $837 million, according to the report.
Compare that number to 2012, the trial run year for super PACs, when candidates and super PACs collectively raised $286 million and only 17 percent of that came from these outside groups.
“The 2012 election was the first presidential election to see the use of super PACs and political operatives were still taking them for a test drive,” Michael Beckel, a politics reporter with CPI, told the Washington Examiner. “Now they are a must-have accessory for nearly every candidate.”
GOP politicians seem to be more adept to working with PACs than their Democratic counterparts. Nearly 90 percent of super PAC funds were used to support conservative candidates rather than liberal ones although the Republican field has had more candidates than the Democratic race.
Last year’s sizable growth indicates campaigns’ “unrelated” fundraising arms could make the 2016 election the biggest one yet, outpacing the record $2 billion raised in 2012.
