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People For The American Way Voters Alliance

This is a logo for People For the American Way. (link)
Location:

Washington, DC
Treasurer:

Marge Baker
Formation:

1998
Type:

Democratic PAC

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People for the American Way Voters Alliance (PFAWVA) is a PAC which donates to candidates on behalf of People for the American Way (PFAW), a left-of-center advocacy group that originated as a project of the Tides Foundation. 1

PFAWVA contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in the two election cycles after its founding in 1998, and then dramatically decreased its federal contributions over the following two decades. In the 2020 election cycle, PFAWVA gave less than $14,000, divided between seven Congressional candidates and one Senatorial candidate.

PFAWVA’s treasurer is listed as Marge Baker. 2 She is the executive vice president for policy and program at PFAW, and formerly worked for former Democratic U.S. Senators Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH). 3

Political Spending

In the 2020 election cycle, People for the American Way Voters Alliance spent almost $14,000, with all expenditure going to Democrats. PFAWVA’s donated sums of up to $2,121 to Congressional challengers Jon Hoadley (D-MI), Mike Siegel (D-TX), Qasim Rashid (D-VA), Morris David (D-NC), Kara Eastman (D-NE), and Candance Valenzuela (D-TX), all of whom lost their elections. The only Congressional candidate to win her election was now-U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), who received $1,000. PFAWVA also gave $1,000 to Senatorial candidate Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez (D-TX), who lost in the Democratic primary. 4

PFAWVA spent $9,000 to almost $90,000 in election cycles from 2012-2018. The organization’s spending peaked in the 1998 and 2000 election cycles, reaching over $527,000, before steadily declining over the following decades. 5

In 2010, PFAWVA and the AFL-CIO offered to match any funds raised to put up billboards criticizing Congressman John Boehner (R-OH) near Rep. Boehner’s home and favorite golf course. 6

In 2008, PFAWVA spent almost $96,000 in support of President Barack Obama. 7

Also in 2008, PFAWVA hosted a contest with left-wing progressive blog Down With Tyranny wherein individuals were invited to donate to a list of left-progressive Congressional candidates, and the candidate who raised the most money would receive additional funds from PFAWVA. 8

In 2006, PFAWVA joined a coalition of pro-abortion groups to attempt to overturn a major anti-abortion law in South Dakota. 9

In 2004, PFAWVA organized and funded a campaign tour by left-wing activist Gloria Steinman to reach out to young and female voters to support Democratic candidates. Steinman’s tour included events run by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, The Imagine Festival’s Films to See Before You Vote Tour, the Young Voter Alliance, the League of Pissed-off Voters, Women of Ohio, and punkvoter.com. 10

Since the 1998 cycle, PFAWVA has only spent $3,500 on Republican candidates, and has given no funds to Republicans since 2000. 11

Endorsements

In the 2020 election cycle, People for the American Way Voters Alliance endorsed Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),12 Teresa Tomlinson (D-GA),13 Liam O’Mara (D-CA) in their Congressional campaigns. 14

In 2006, PFAWVA supported the Colorado Domestic Partnership referendum, which proposed to extend marriage benefits to same-sex couples engaged in civil unions. The referendum was defeated. 15

Funding

People for the American Way Voters Alliance raises money through ActBlue, a major online clearinghouse for donations to Democratic organizations. 16

In 2020, PFAWVA’s largest donor was investment manager Richard Meyer, who gave $5,000. 17

At the end of the 2020 election cycle, PFAWVA had $60,493 in cash on-hand. 18

References

  1. “People for the American Way.” ProPublica. Accessed April 14, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521366721/201842549349301104/full.
  2. “People for the American Way PAC Profile.” Open Secrets. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/party-totals-section.
  3. “Marge Baker.” People for the American Way. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.pfaw.org/spokespeople/marge-baker/.
  4. “People for the American Way PAC Profile.” Open Secrets. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/party-totals-section.
  5. “People for the American Way PAC Profile.” Open Secrets. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/party-totals-section.
  6. Klein, Howie. “Build a Boehner Billboard.” Huff Post. December 6, 2017. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/build-a-boehner-billboard_b_650387.
  7. “People for the American Way Voters Alliance (2007-2008).” Political MoneyLine. Accessed April 15, 2021. http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/tr/tr_mg_pac.aspx?&sCycle=2008&sCmteID=C00331454.
  8. “People for the American Way Voters Alliance.” Down with Tyranny. October 4, 2008. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/10/people-for-american-way-voters-alliance.html.
  9. Cooper, Cynthia L. “Lawmaker Funnels $750,000 to Abortion Ban Campaign.” We News. November 4, 2006. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://womensenews.org/2006/11/lawmaker-funnels-750000-abortion-ban-campaign/.
  10. “Legend on Wheels.” Pollstar. October 20, 2004. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.pollstar.com/article/legend-on-wheels-6360.
  11. “People for the American Way PAC Profile.” Open Secrets. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/party-totals-section.
  12. “People for the American Way.” Twitter. February 20, 2020. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://twitter.com/peoplefor/status/1230613347030175744.
  13. “U.S. Senate Candidate Teresa Tomlinson Receives Endorsement From People For The American Way Voters Alliance PAC.” Teresa Tomlinson for Senate. May 28, 2020. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://teresatomlinson.com/pfaw-voters-alliance-pac/.
  14. “Endorsed by People for the American Way.” Liam O’Mara. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.liamomara.org/news/endorsed-by-people-for-the-american-way/.
  15. “Colorado Domestic Partnership, Referendum I (2006).” Ballotpedia. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Domestic_Partnerships,_Referendum_I_(2006).
  16. “Donate to People for the American Way Voters Alliance.” ActBlue. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/people-for-the-american-way-voters-alliance-1.
  17. “People for the American Way PAC Profile.” Open Secrets. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/party-totals-section.
  18. “People for the American Way PAC Profile.” Open Secrets. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.opensecrets.org/party-totals-section.
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People For The American Way Voters Alliance


Washington, DC