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Political Party/527

End Citizens United (ECU)

Website:

endcitizensunited.org
Formation:

2015
Type:

527 Political Action Committee
Founders:

Greg Berlin

Jake Lipsett

Charles Starnes
Issue:

Left-Wing Campaign Finance Reform

Opposition to Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
President:

Tiffany Muller

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End Citizens United (ECU) is a Democratic-aligned political action committee (PAC) founded by three former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) staffers in 2015. The PAC endorses political candidates who promise to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC.1

ECU adopts a heavily criticized ‘churn and burn’ email marketing strategy for its fundraising schemes. This led to the PAC raising $11 million in its first year.2 Some of ECU’s allies have criticized ECU’s fundraising strategies.3

The PAC endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. During the 2016 election cycle, ECU contributed $50,000 to Clinton, $90,000 to the DCCC,4 and spent nearly $11 million against Republicans.5 From the 2018 through the 2022 election cycles, ECU made a total of $32,863,655 in independent expenditures, 100 percent of which was spent against Republicans or for Democrats.6

During the 2020 presidential election ECU endorsed Democrat Joe Biden’s campaign, and announced its support for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ reelection campaign for the 2024 presidential election. 7 8

Founding

In 2015, Greg Berlin, a former digital campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC);9 Charles Starnes, former deputy digital director of the DCCC;10  and ex-congressional staffer Jake Lipsett founded End Citizens United, a political action committee (PAC) that endorses Democratic Party candidates who support the overturning of the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC.11

Lipsett, Berlin, and Starnes were also the founding partners of a digital political consultancy called Mothership Strategies, which was hired by End Citizens United as a client.12 13

In 2020, the ECU merged with fellow 527 Super PAC Let America Vote (LAV), becoming a joint PAC, to, “allow the groups to take a holistic approach to two of the biggest challenges facing our democracy: big money and voter suppression.” 14

Political Activities

End Citizens United (ECU) began its fundraising drive almost immediately upon its creation in 2015, sending as many as seven emails per day to potential donors.15 The DCCC created this ‘churn and burn’ strategy in 2014, and Mothership Strategies, a liberal Democratic-aligned digital strategy firm created by Berlin, Starnes, and Lipsett in 2014,16 adopted it.

ECU used this email strategy to persuade individuals to “rush a donation” to “restore our Democracy.” Within its first year, ECU had raised $11 million and spent $6.3 million. End Citizens United spent around 65% of the $6.3 million on consultancy fees and other expenses including $1.7 million to rent email lists from organizations such as Ready for Hillary PAC, Care2, and media outlets like the Nation. End Citizens United also spent $1.2 million on the services of Rising Tide interactive and $500,000 on services provided by Mothership Strategies.17

For its first endorsements, ECU used a questionnaire to decide what candidates from the Democratic Party it advocated. Five of the 11 candidates chosen were clients of Mothership Strategies.18

2016 Presidential Election

End Citizens United endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. The PAC explains in a press release that it endorsed Clinton because of her “aggressive plan to reform our campaign finance system and end the corrupting influence of unlimited, anonymous spending in our elections.”19 During the 2016 election cycle, ECU contributed $50,000 to the Hillary Action Fund and $90,000 to the DCCC in PAC to PAC payments,20 while also spending just under $11 million in independent expenditures, communication costs, and coordinated expenses against the Republicans.21

2018 Midterm Elections

ECU contributed $135,000 to the DCCC during the 2018 election cycle and donated $1 million to Democratic Party candidates including $650,000 to Jason Crow (D-Colorado). ECU also spent $2.1 million against Republican candidates including $1.7 million against Matt Rosendale (R-Montana).22

2020 Presidential Election

During the 2020 election End Citizens United and Let America Vote endorsed Joe Biden for president. 23 During the same election cycle they donated $60,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), $80,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), and $50,000 to the DNC Services Corp. 24

2022 Midterm Elections

For the 2022 midterms ECU has donated $80,000 to the DCCC and $60,000 to the DSCC. 25 They have also donated to PAC to the Future, a PAC affiliated with Nancy Pelosi. 26

On their website, the organization has a list titled the “Big Money 20,” a list of 20 “top Republicans to defeat” in the 2020 midterm elections due to being the “worst of Washington-style corrupt politics” according to the group.  Notable names on the list include Marco Rubio, Herschel Walker, and Mehmet Oz. 27

2024 Presidential Election

In October 2023, ECU and Let America Vote (LAV) announced they would be endorsing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ reelection campaign for the 2024 presidential election. ECU and LAV president Tiffany Muller stated that the endorsement was due to the Biden Administration’s focus on voting rights legislation, claiming, “The rise of Republican election denialism, dark money groups, and corruption threaten the very foundation of our nation. President Biden and Vice President Harris share these concerns and have consistently championed reforms to address these critical issues.” 28

As of April 2024, ECU listed 46 candidates for federal office who had received its endorsement, all of whom were Democrats.29

Criticism

Campaign Finance

ECU has multiple critics among other liberals supporting restrictions on campaign speech.30 Move to Amend, a non-profit coalition that supports reversing Citizens United v. FEC denounced ECU on its website.31

Affiliations

End Citizens United created the End Citizens United Action Network in 2017. The Action Network is an online forum for individuals and groups to use to organize events, petitions, and fundraising drives for “progressive causes.”32

End Citizens United has worked closely with Mothership Strategies, the Democratic-aligned digital strategy firm created by ECU’s founders. End Citizens United was reported to have been Mothership’s largest non-candidate client.33 During the 2016 election cycle, ECU paid Mothership Strategies $3.3 million;34 the PAC paid the firm another $2.7 million for its services in the 2018 mid-term election cycle.35

Financials

During the 2016 election cycle, End Citizens United (ECU) raised $25,577,797. During the 2018 cycle, it raised $33,098,237. During the 2020 cycle, it raised $42,449,850. During the 2022 cycle, it raised $31,179,262.36

During the 2016 election cycle it made $11,967,156 in independent expenditures, over 98 percent of which was against Republicans or for Democrats. During the 2018 election cycle it made $12,588,383 in independent expenditures, 100 percent of which was against Republicans or for Democrats. During the 2020 election cycle it made $14,235,844 in independent expenditures, 100 percent of which was against Republicans or for Democrats. During the 2022 election cycle it made $6,039,428 in independent expenditures, 100 percent of which was against Republicans or for Democrats.37

Leadership

Tiffany Muller is president of End Citizens United (ECU), as well as of Let America Vote, and the End Citizens United (ECU) Action Fund. She was formerly deputy political director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), chief of staff to former U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-FL), vice president of political operations at the LGBTQ Victory Fund, and research director to former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius (D). She has also been a board member at the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center.38 39

Jonas Edwards-Jenks is communications director at ECU. Before that, he was associate director of grassroots communications at Everytown for Gun Safety, and served as press secretary for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and communications director for Rep. Max Rose (D-NY).40

Lynn Jorden is independent expenditure director at ECU. She formerly worked on the campaigns of Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), and Gov. Steve Beshear (D-KY), as well as working as a research associate with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2014.41

Jody Murphy is chief program officer at ECU. He was formerly political director and independent expenditure director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.42

Justine Turner is political director at ECU and Let America Vote. She was formerly vice president of political and advocacy at iHeartMedia, and before that was national delegate operations director for the 2020 presidential campaign of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). She also directed independent expenditure campaigns for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and has held positions at Senate Majority PAC and SKDKnickerbocker.43

End Citizens United’s board of directors includes former U.S Representative Ron Barber (D-AZ), DSPolitical chief operating officer and former vice president at NGP VAN Christopher Massicotte, Civitas Public Affairs Group founding partner Bill Smith, Working America executive director Matt Morrison, Democratic party strategist and campaign official Karen Finney, and former Missouri Secretary of State and Let America Vote founder Jason Kander.44

References

  1. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  2. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  3. “Move to Amend.” We the People, Not We the Corporations | Move to Amend. June 17, 2015. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://movetoamend.org/beware-group-end-citizens-united-pulling-your-chain.
  4. “End Citizens United to PACs/Parties.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pac2pac.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00573261.
  5. “End Citizens United Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cmte=C00573261&cycle=2016&txt=.
  6. “End Citizens United Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/end-citizens-united/C00573261/independent-expenditures/2022
  7. “End Citizens United and Let America Vote Endorse Joe Biden for President – End Citizens United: We the People, Not ‘We the Wealthy.’” End Citizens United | We the People, Not “We the Wealthy”. End Citizens United, April 16, 2020. https://endcitizensunited.org/latest-news/press-releases/end-citizens-united-and-let-america-vote-endorse-joe-biden-for-president/.
  8. Gangitano, Alex. “Exclusive: End Citizens United endorses Biden in 2024.” The Hill, October 5, 2023. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4239009-exclusive-end-citizens-united-endorses-biden-in-2024/
  9. “Greg Berlin” US Election Tour 2018. Accessed September 10, 2018. http://www.uselectiontour2018.com/speakers/35/greg-berlin.
  10. Samuelsohn, Darren, Geoffrey Kabaservice, Erick Trickey, Alondra De La Cruz, and Jack Shafer. “URGENT: Dems’ Email Bonanza.” About Us. August 07, 2014. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/urgent-democratic-emails-fundraising-bonanza-brandon-english-109775.
  11. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 10, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  12. Hailey Fuchs and Daniel Lippman. “Democrats Shunned a Top Firm Over its Controversial Fundraising Practices. It Hasn’t Gone Away.” Politico. November 24, 2023. Available at: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/24/mothership-strategies-democratic-fundraising-00128548
  13. “Case Study: End Citizens United.” Mothership Strategies. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://mothershipstrategies.com/end-citizens-united/
  14. “LET AMERICA VOTE TO JOIN END CITIZENS UNITED NETWORK TO FIGHT TO UNRIG THE SYSTEM.” Let America Vote, 2020. https://letamericavote.org/news/blog/2020/let-america-vote-end-citizens-united/.
  15. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  16. “About Us.” Mothership Strategies. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://mothershipstrategies.com/about-us/.
  17. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  18. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  19. “End Citizens United Endorses Hillary Clinton for President.” End Citizens United. July 20, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. http://endcitizensunited.org/press-releases/end-citizens-united-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president/.
  20. “End Citizens United to PACs/Parties.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pac2pac.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00573261.
  21. “End Citizens United Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cmte=C00573261&cycle=2016&txt=.
  22. “End Citizens United Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00573261.
  23. “End Citizens United and Let America Vote Endorse Joe Biden for President – End Citizens United: We the People, Not ‘We the Wealthy.’” End Citizens United | We the People, Not “We the Wealthy”. End Citizens United, April 16, 2020. https://endcitizensunited.org/latest-news/press-releases/end-citizens-united-and-let-america-vote-endorse-joe-biden-for-president/.
  24.  “End Citizens United PAC to Pac/Party.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 2, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/end-citizens-united/C00573261/pac-to-pac/2022.
  25. “End Citizens United PAC to Pac/Party.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 2, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/end-citizens-united/C00573261/pac-to-pac/2022.
  26. “End Citizens United PAC to Pac/Party.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 2, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/end-citizens-united/C00573261/pac-to-pac/2022.
  27. “ECU Unveils 2022 ‘Big Money 20’ List of Most Corrupt Politicians – End Citizens United: We the People, Not ‘We the Wealthy.’” End Citizens United | We the People, Not “We the Wealthy”, October 24, 2022. https://endcitizensunited.org/latest-news/press-releases/ecu-unveils-2022-big-money-20-list-of-most-corrupt-politicians/.
  28. Gangitano, Alex. “Exclusive: End Citizens United endorses Biden in 2024.” The Hill, October 5, 2023. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4239009-exclusive-end-citizens-united-endorses-biden-in-2024/
  29. “Candidates.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/candidates/
  30. Blumenthal, Paul. “This Group Raised $11 Million To Defeat Citizens United. So Why Do People Hate Them?” HuffPost UK. April 21, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/end-citizens-united-pac-campaign-finance-reform_us_570e5308e4b0ffa5937da409.
  31. “Move to Amend.” We the People, Not We the Corporations | Move to Amend. June 17, 2015. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://movetoamend.org/beware-group-end-citizens-united-pulling-your-chain.
  32. Network, Action. “End Citizens United: End Citizens United.” The Action Network. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://actionnetwork.org/groups/end-citizens-united.
  33. Ludwig, Hayden. “Former Politicos Cash in on Democratic Dreams.” Capital Research Center. September 7, 2018. Accessed September 11, 2018. https://capitalresearch.org/article/former-politicos-cash-in-on-democratic-dreams/.
  34. “Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 10, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2016&vendor=Mothership Strategies.
  35. “Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed September 10, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2018&vendor=Mothership Strategies.
  36. “PAC Profile: End Citizens United.” OpenSecrets. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/end-citizens-united/C00573261/summary/2022
  37. “End Citizens United Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/end-citizens-united/C00573261/independent-expenditures/2022
  38. “Meet Our Team.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/about-us/meet-our-team/
  39. “Tiffany Muller.” Linkedin. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-muller-407a174
  40. “Meet Our Team.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/about-us/meet-our-team/
  41. “Meet Our Team.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/about-us/meet-our-team/
  42. “Meet Our Team.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/about-us/meet-our-team/
  43. “Meet Our Team.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/about-us/meet-our-team/
  44. “Meet Our Team.” End Citizens United. Accessed April 10, 2024. Available at: https://endcitizensunited.org/about-us/meet-our-team/

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Bill Smith
    Board Member
  2. Scott Fay
    Former Deputy Political Director
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