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Political Party/527

Win Justice PAC

Formation:

2018
Type:

Democratic PAC
Treasurer:

Deepak Pateriya

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Win Justice PAC is a political action committee created by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Planned Parenthood Votes, Color of Change, and the Center for Community Change (CCC). The PAC was first deployed in swing states in the 2018 midterm elections.

The PAC’s single-largest funder is billionaire George Soros, who provided Win Justice PAC with $5 million of its $12 million in revenue for the 2018 election cycle. 1 The PAC has strong ties to the Democracy Alliance, which is a network of left-wing funders; movie director and producer Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw are also donors. 2

Overview

Win Justice PAC debuted in the 2018 midterm elections. It was launched by Planned Parenthood Votes, the SEIU, Color of Change, and Center for Community Change. The campaign was designed to target infrequent voters in left-leaning demographics. 3

The group said it would focus on three competitive states; Florida, Michigan, and Nevada. 4 All three states had competitive U.S. Senate races, and the group would also focus on down ballot races such as governor and attorney general. 5 Eventually, the PAC would also focus on certain swing U.S. House races as well. 6

Campaign Methods

The group focused on building relationships with potential voters. “Engaging infrequent voters is not a new strategy, but attempts to do this in midterm elections have not worked consistently in the past –– mostly because efforts often engage too close to election day and don’t build real relationships,” the group said in a press release announcing the campaign. 7

The organization used digital organizing and peer-to-peer text messaging alongside door-knocking. It also trained canvassers and other community organizers to spread its message. 8

In Florida, it targeted 1.25 million voters. 9 It largely focused on the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa areas. 10 In Michigan, it targeted 1 million voters11, focusing on the Detroit area. 12 It was also intended to be the first step of a long-term effort to increase Democratic Party support in Michigan. 13In Nevada, it targeted 250,000 voters14 in the Las Vegas and Reno areas. 15

Among the races it played in were the Florida U.S. Senate race in support of Bill Nelson (D-FL), who was defeated. 16 Win Justice had better luck in the Nevada U.S. Senate race where it supported Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who won. 17 It also won its biggest two U.S. House races, helping elect Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) and Donna Shalala (D-FL). 18

Leadership

The Win Justice PAC is led by Deepak Pateriya. Pateriya is the chief of staff for Center for Community Change Action, a group that frequently protests Republicans and engages in other “direct action.” 19 Pateriya is also a member of the advisory board for U.S. programs at George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. 20

Funding

Originally, the coalition groups behind Win Justice PAC wanted to put $30 million behind their effort. 21 However, according to federal reports, the PAC raised $12 million in the 2018 election cycle. It spent $11.8 million and had an ending cash on hand of $189,926. 22

The largest single donor to the PAC was George Soros, who donated $5 million to the PAC. 23 His daughters-in-law Andrea Soros and Jennifer Allan-Soros also donated $100,000 each. 24

Democracy Alliance secretary Weston Milliken donated $25,000, and Gara LaMarche, the alliance’s president, sits on the advisory board of CCC. 25

The PAC also received donations from various left-wing committees and groups. A PAC aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority PAC, donated $250,000. 26 The America Votes Action Fund donated $1.75 million. 27 United We Dream Action donated $10,000. 28 State Victory Action donated $200,000. 29 The Propel Capital Network donated $200,000. 30

Some other heavy hitters also donated to the PAC. Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw donated $50,000 each. 31 Donald Sussman donated $1 million. 32 George Krupp donated $50,000. 33

During the first three months of 2020, George Soros donated $10 million to Win Justice PAC. According to a spokesperson for Soros, they “made major commitments to the Win Justice coalition and coalition members because we want them to be strong and well-funded going into the 2020 election.” The spokesperson added, “The voters they talk to are among those who will most deeply and disproportionately affected by the upheaval the Covid-19 pandemic appears likely to cause in November.” 34

References

  1. “WIN JUSTICE – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 15, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00672394/?tab=raising.
  2. Schoffstall, Joe. 2019. “Pelosi-Affiliated PAC Sent $250,000 To George Soros Effort”. Washington Free Beacon. https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-affiliated-pac-sent-250000-to-george-soros-effort/.
  3. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  4. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  5. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  6. “Win Justice PAC Independent Expenditures”. 2019. Open Secrets. Accessed May 10. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  7. “Progressive Groups Announce Unprecedented $30 Million Midterm Effort In Three States”. 2018. Planned Parenthood Action. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/pressroom/progressive-groups-announce-unprecedented-30-million-midterm-effort-in-three-states.
  8. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  9. “Progressive Groups Announce Unprecedented $30 Million Midterm Effort In Three States”. 2018. Planned Parenthood Action. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/pressroom/progressive-groups-announce-unprecedented-30-million-midterm-effort-in-three-states.
  10. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  11. “Progressive Groups Announce Unprecedented $30 Million Midterm Effort In Three States”. 2018. Planned Parenthood Action. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/pressroom/progressive-groups-announce-unprecedented-30-million-midterm-effort-in-three-states.
  12. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  13. “Progressive Groups Announce Unprecedented $30 Million Midterm Effort In Three States”. 2018. Planned Parenthood Action. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/pressroom/progressive-groups-announce-unprecedented-30-million-midterm-effort-in-three-states.
  14. “Progressive Groups Announce Unprecedented $30 Million Midterm Effort In Three States”. 2018. Planned Parenthood Action. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/pressroom/progressive-groups-announce-unprecedented-30-million-midterm-effort-in-three-states.
  15. Icsman, Marilyn. 2018. “New Voting Initiative Will Target People Of Color, Women, Young People For 2018 Midterms”. USA Today. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/520408002.
  16. “Win Justice PAC Independent Expenditures”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  17. “Win Justice PAC Independent Expenditures”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  18. “Win Justice PAC Independent Expenditures”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  19. Schoffstall, Joe. 2019. “Pelosi-Affiliated PAC Sent $250,000 To George Soros Effort”. Washington Free Beacon. https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-affiliated-pac-sent-250000-to-george-soros-effort/.
  20. Schoffstall, Joe. 2019. “Pelosi-Affiliated PAC Sent $250,000 To George Soros Effort”. Washington Free Beacon. https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-affiliated-pac-sent-250000-to-george-soros-effort/.
  21. “Progressive Groups Announce Unprecedented $30 Million Midterm Effort In Three States”. 2018. Planned Parenthood Action. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/pressroom/progressive-groups-announce-unprecedented-30-million-midterm-effort-in-three-states.
  22. “Win Justice PAC Summary”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2018&strID=C00672394.
  23. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  24. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  25. Schoffstall, Joe. 2019. “Pelosi-Affiliated PAC Sent $250,000 To George Soros Effort”. Washington Free Beacon. https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-affiliated-pac-sent-250000-to-george-soros-effort/.
  26. Schoffstall, Joe. 2019. “Pelosi-Affiliated PAC Sent $250,000 To George Soros Effort”. Washington Free Beacon. https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-affiliated-pac-sent-250000-to-george-soros-effort/.
  27. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  28. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  29. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  30. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  31. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  32. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  33. “Win Justice PAC Contributors, 2018 Cycle”. 2019. Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00672394.
  34. Severns, Maggie. “Soros pumps more than $28 million into Democratic groups for 2020.” Politico. April 10, 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/10/soros-pumps-28-million-democratic-groups-2020-179367

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Weston Milliken
    Donor
  2. George Soros
    Funder
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