CounterPAC
Mission: To “incentivize candidates to take reform pledges that bring greater accountability to their own campaign practices, generating models of reform that demonstrate its possibility and underscore its value.”
A citizen-based, citizen-funded, and nonpartisan political action committee (PAC), CounterPAC works to target and prevent the influence of “outside money” (expenditures by any group that is not coordinated with the campaign, such as a super PAC) and “dark money” in key electoral races.
Year Founded: 2014 • (415) 529-5335 • info@counterpac.org • counterpac.org
Current Democracy Work
CounterPAC presses candidates in high-profile races to take the “No Outside Money” and/or “No Dark Money” pledges. These pledges call on candidates to publicly reject these money sources, while CounterPAC uses media campaigns to elevate campaign finance issues and hold candidates accountable for adopting more transparent practices. Both pledges call on candidates to support campaign finance reform if elected to office. CounterPAC additionally monitors outside spending through its own research, drawing attention to any breaches of the pledge.
Recent Successes
In the 2014 election cycle, CounterPAC brought issues of political spending and “dark money” to the forefront in three of the nation’s most competitive congressional races. Its efforts pushed several candidates to publicly take its pledges and mounted a successful accountability action against a 19-term incumbent.
Your Entry Points
Sign up for the CounterPAC newsletter and follow its work on social media for the latest updates from the political frontlines. Demand that your elected officials and candidates take the pledge.