Edf Action Votes spent $9.9M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 97% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 63% ended up on the winning side ($5.8M won, $3.4M lost).
Outside spending
$9.9M
On the winning side
63%
$5.8M
On the losing side
$3.4M
Supporting vs attacking
16% / 84%
$1.6M for, $8.3M against
Google says Edf Action Votes also spent $207K on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (2% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
Edf Action Votes reported $14M in gifts from people, companies, nonprofits and other PACs. The biggest are below.
- Environmental Defense Action FundCompany / nonprofit$6.0M (44%)
- Susan MandelIndividual$2.5M (18%)
- Joshua BekensteinIndividual$850K (6%)
- Sam Rawlings WaltonIndividual$775K (6%)
- Anita BekensteinIndividual$750K (5%)
- Elizabeth StricklerIndividual$375K (3%)
- Michael BillsIndividual$300K (2%)
- David GiulianiIndividual$200K (1%)
- Lcv Victory FundAnother PAC$176K (1%)
- David VogelIndividual$150K (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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | President | Attacking | $2.7M | ✓ Yes |
| Steve Daines | Montana Senate | Attacking | $1.5M | ✗ No |
| Martha McSally | Arizona Senate | Attacking | $950K | ✓ Yes |
| Daniel Mccready | North Carolina 9th District | Supporting | $643K | Unknown |
| Nick J. Freitas | Virginia 7th District | Attacking | $628K | ✓ Yes |
| Yvette Herrell | New Mexico 2nd District | Attacking | $574K | ✗ No |
| Scott Perry | Pennsylvania 10th District | Attacking | $381K | ✗ No |
| David Young | Iowa 3rd District | Attacking | $350K | ✓ Yes |
| Nancy Mace | South Carolina 1st District | Attacking | $346K | ✗ No |
| Michelle Steel | California 48th District | Attacking | $306K | ✗ No |
| Steve Bullock | Montana Senate | Supporting | $271K | ✗ No |
| Wesley Hunt | Texas 7th District | Attacking | $267K | ✓ Yes |
Questions people ask
- How much did Edf Action Votes spend in 2020, and did it win?
- Edf Action Votes spent $9.9M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 97% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 63% ended up on the winning side ($5.8M won, $3.4M lost).
- Who funds Edf Action Votes?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2020 cycle were Environmental Defense Action Fund ($6.0M), Susan Mandel ($2.5M), Joshua Bekenstein ($850K), Sam Rawlings Walton ($775K), Anita Bekenstein ($750K), out of $14M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did Edf Action Votes spend the most on in 2020?
- against Donald Trump (President, $2.7M, won); against Steve Daines (Montana Senate, $1.5M, lost); against Martha McSally (Arizona Senate, $950K, won).