Read the Report.
RALEIGH—Research
conducted by NCPIRG (North Carolina Public Interest Research Group)
found that ten powerful legislators funded the majority of their
campaigns with cash from donors and special interests outside of their
districts. The report, Looking for Funds in All the Wrong Places,
revealed that on average, 73 percent of funding came from outside the
district, including 14 percent from outside the state.
“While
only residents living within an election district can vote there,
wealthy donors and powerful interests can heavily influence the outcome
of elections by funneling money into campaigns,” stated NCPIRG’s Rob
Thompson.
This high percentage of out-of-district contributions is
particularly troubling given the importance of fundraising in winning
elections. In North Carolina, typically the candidate who raises the
most money wins the election. In the state’s 2002 elections, only 11
percent of winning candidates were outspent by their opponent.
“In considering a run for office, candidates without a
statewide or even regional fundraising network might decide to sit out,
even if they are qualified and have strong support within their
districts,” continued Thompson.
The report shows that serious reforms are needed to
reinvigorate North Carolina’s democracy and to ensure that candidates
and elected officials are accountable to their constituents, not to
outside donors and special interests. Publicly financed elections would
be a profound step towards eliminating the negative influence of
out-of-district fundraising.
“A publicly financed system of elections would allow
candidates who are respected locally, but who don't have access to PACs
and wealthy donors, to win legislative elections, because they wouldn’t
have to seek any funding from outside of their district,” stated
Thompson.
In conducting its research, NCPIRG chose to focus on some of
the most powerful members of the Legislature and selected candidates
who were chairs or ranking minority members of the Appropriations
Committees during this election cycle. (To see a list of the ten
candidates and specific information about their fundraising, please see
the body of the report).
Senator Kay Hagan had the highest percentage of in-district
contributions, with 47 percent of her funds coming from individuals and
businesses within the district. Senator Linda Garrou was next, with 41
percent of contributions from in-district sources. At the low end,
Representative Joe Kiser raised no money from within his district and
Representative Beverly Earle raised just 8 percent locally.
