ICYMI: Dark Money Group Backing Senator Collins Also Funding Fringe Anti-Choice Groups
New reporting from OpenSecrets has revealed that the same dark money group flooding Maine’s airwaves with ads supporting Susan Collins is also funding some of the most vehemently anti-reproductive rights organizations in the country.
The Washington-based dark money group One Nation -- which is closely linked to Karl Rove and Mitch McConnell -- has given millions of dollars to ultra-conservative organizations, including groups that have been leading the effort to dismantle a woman’s right to choose by promoting anti-choice Trump judges and introducing rigid, uncompromising abortion restrictions in states across the country.
Meanwhile, Senator Collins has been a reliable vote for anti-choice advocates, voting to confirm 96% of Trump judges, including at least 32 nominees who oppose abortion rights.
“It comes as no surprise that the same dark money group that’s funding the war on reproductive rights is also pouring money into reelecting Senator Collins,” said Maine Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Marra. “Washington Republicans know they can count on Senator Collins’ vote when they need to confirm anti-choice judges like Brett Kavanaugh. Look no further than Senator Collins’ voting record to understand why her campaign is being propped up by anti-choice special interest groups in Washington.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
OpenSecrets: Karl Rove-linked ‘dark money’ group raised, spent big ahead of 2018 midterms
Karl Evers-Hillstron & Yue Stella Yu
November 21, 2019
KEY POINTS:
- One Nation is already targeting 2020 Senate races, running ads to support vulnerable Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
- One Nation gave out a total of $3.8 million in grants to other conservative nonprofits, including anti-abortion groups such as Susan B. Anthony List and National Right to Life, last year.
- Pushing for more restrictive abortion laws across the states, both groups spent millions of dollars to influence state legislatures and drafted model legislation for anti-abortion lawmakers to follow, the Center for Public Integrity reported.
- Susan B. Anthony List, which received $1.6 million, has become more active on the federal level, spending $2.4 million during the 2018 midterms to back congressional Republicans.“
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