Mainstream Democrats PAC spent $2.5M on independent expenditures in the 2022 federal elections, and 76% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2022). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 70% ended up on the winning side ($1.3M won, $570K lost).
Outside spending
$2.5M
On the winning side
70%
$1.3M
On the losing side
$570K
Supporting vs attacking
62% / 38%
$1.5M for, $940K against
Google says Mainstream Democrats PAC also spent $65K on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (3% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
Mainstream Democrats PAC reported $3.2M in gifts from people, companies, nonprofits and other PACs. The biggest are below.
- Deborah SimonIndividual$1.0M (31%)
- Reid HoffmanIndividual$600K (19%)
- Democratic Majority for IsraelCompany / nonprofit$500K (16%)
- Robert StavisIndividual$100K (3%)
- Paul FinneganIndividual$100K (3%)
- David Randolph Peeler TrustCompany / nonprofit$100K (3%)
- Alan SchragerIndividual$100K (3%)
- Martha KarshIndividual$70K (2%)
- Andrew ClubockIndividual$50K (2%)
- Roger EvansIndividual$50K (2%)
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Cuellar | Texas 28th District | Supporting | $751K | ✓ Yes |
| Kurt Schrader | Oregon 5th District (primary) | Supporting | $589K | Unknown |
| Adam Paul Laxalt | Nevada Senate | Attacking | $212K | ✓ Yes |
| Jamie McLeod-Skinner | Oregon 5th District (primary) | Attacking | $196K | ✗ No |
| Jill N. Tokuda | Hawaii 2nd District (primary) | Attacking | $178K | ✗ No |
| Nina Turner | Ohio 11th District (primary) | Attacking | $152K | ✓ Yes |
| Daniel Goldman | New York 10th District | Supporting | $102K | ✓ Yes |
| Sandy Smith | North Carolina 1st District | Attacking | $72K | ✓ Yes |
| Jen A. Kiggans | Virginia 2nd District | Attacking | $66K | ✗ No |
| Elaine G. Luria | Virginia 2nd District | Supporting | $66K | ✗ No |
| Delia Ramirez | Illinois 3rd District (primary) | Attacking | $64K | ✗ No |
| Catherine Cortez Masto | Nevada Senate | Supporting | $11K | ✓ Yes |
Questions people ask
- How much did Mainstream Democrats PAC spend in 2022, and did it win?
- Mainstream Democrats PAC spent $2.5M on independent expenditures in the 2022 federal elections, and 76% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2022). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 70% ended up on the winning side ($1.3M won, $570K lost).
- Who funds Mainstream Democrats PAC?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2022 cycle were Deborah Simon ($1.0M), Reid Hoffman ($600K), Democratic Majority for Israel ($500K), Robert Stavis ($100K), Paul Finnegan ($100K), out of $3.2M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did Mainstream Democrats PAC spend the most on in 2022?
- for Henry Cuellar (Texas 28th District, $751K, won); for Kurt Schrader (Oregon 5th District, $589K, unknown); against Adam Paul Laxalt (Nevada Senate, $212K, won).