Votevets spent $26M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 64% ended up on the winning side ($14M won, $7.9M lost).
Outside spending
$26M
On the winning side
64%
$14M
On the losing side
$7.9M
Supporting vs attacking
53% / 47%
$14M for, $12M against
Google says Votevets also spent $283K on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (1% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
Votevets reported $31M in gifts from people, companies, nonprofits and other PACs. The biggest are below.
- Senate Majority PAC (SMP)Another PAC$16M (52%)
- Deborah SimonIndividual$1.1M (4%)
- House Majority PACAnother PAC$1.1M (4%)
- Susan MandelIndividual$683K (2%)
- Joshua BekensteinIndividual$593K (2%)
- William SealeIndividual$400K (1%)
- Kate Nelson Media, LLCCompany / nonprofit$364K (1%)
- United Association Political Education Committee (United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada)Another PAC$350K (1%)
- Ibew PAC Educational FundCompany / nonprofit$350K (1%)
- Ua Union Plumbers & Pipefitters Vote! PAC (United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada)Another PAC$350K (1%)
Where the money went
Biggest targets, with whether each one paid off.
✓ Backed the winner or attacked the loser ✗ Backed the loser or attacked the winner Result not matched
| Candidate | Race | Spending | Amount | Paid off? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Cunningham | North Carolina Senate (primary) | Supporting | $4.3M | ✓ Yes |
| David A. Perdue | Georgia Senate | Attacking | $4.2M | ✓ Yes |
| Pete Buttigieg | President (primary) | Supporting | $3.6M | Unknown |
| Mary Hegar | Texas Senate (primary) | Supporting | $3.5M | ✓ Yes |
| Cal Cunningham | North Carolina Senate | Supporting | $1.5M | ✗ No |
| Thom Tilllis | North Carolina Senate | Attacking | $1.5M | ✗ No |
| Susan Margaret Collins | Maine Senate (primary) | Attacking | $1.2M | ✗ No |
| Donald Trump | President | Attacking | $941K | ✓ Yes |
| Dan Sullivan | Alaska Senate | Attacking | $883K | ✗ No |
| Tony Gonzales | Texas 23rd District | Attacking | $632K | ✗ No |
| Sean Parnell | Pennsylvania 17th District | Attacking | $525K | ✓ Yes |
| Nicole Malliotakis | New York 11th District | Attacking | $370K | ✗ No |
Questions people ask
- How much did Votevets spend in 2020, and did it win?
- Votevets spent $26M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 64% ended up on the winning side ($14M won, $7.9M lost).
- Who funds Votevets?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2020 cycle were Senate Majority PAC (SMP) ($16M), Deborah Simon ($1.1M), House Majority PAC ($1.1M), Susan Mandel ($683K), Joshua Bekenstein ($593K), out of $31M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did Votevets spend the most on in 2020?
- for Cal Cunningham (North Carolina Senate, $4.3M, won); against David A. Perdue (Georgia Senate, $4.2M, won); for Pete Buttigieg (President, $3.6M, unknown).