WASHINGTON – CUNA on Wednesday said it spent more than $480,000 on elections activities last month – the vast majority on campaign contributions – as the final days of the mid-term elections approach.
That was before almost $750,000 CUNA spent on independent expenditures in the first three weeks of October, making more than $1.1 million spent in since the beginning of September, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
CUNA made 132 campaign contributions in September, some of it to endangered candidates such as Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California; Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California; Democratic Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas; Democratic Rep. Bobby Bright of Alabama; and Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania.
CUNA also contributed $19,500 to a variety of leadership PACs that will be used by congressional leaders to bolster allied campaigns, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s PAC to the Future ($5,00); House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s AmeriPAC ($2,500); Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen’s Victory Now PAC ($2,500); House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers’ America Forward PAC ($1,000); House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s BridgePac ($2,500); Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s America’s Leadership PAC ($2,500); and, EDPAC, run for Colorado Democrat Ed Perlmutter, one of the emerging credit union champions in the House ($2,500).
CUNA made a $5,000 contribution to the Nevada Democratic Party, which is fighting to save Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Earlier this month, CUNA spent $152,000 on independent direct mailings to Boost Reid’s campaign and has contributed the maximum allowable $10,000 to Reid’s campaign.
CUNA put its money behind Democrat Chris Coons in the Delaware Senate race, and Republican Kelly Ayotte in the New Hampshire Senate race.
CUNA also made contributions to Republican Alabama Rep. Spencer Bachus, who is expected to become the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee if the Republicans win control of the House; and to Republican Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, who will become chairman of the Senate Banking Committee if the GOP wins the Senate.
CUNA has spent almost $4 million on campaign activity for the mid-term elections, breaking all of its previous highs.
