Gov. Kristi Noem opens checkbook for 14 U.S. Senate races
Republican candidates for U.S. Senate must win to ensure Trump agenda enacted, Republican governor says
Stumping for Donald Trump in presidential swing states isn’t the only way South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is involving herself in the national election circuit.
The second-term governor has been busy on the campaign trail in hopes of not only winning back the White House for the Republican Party in next week’s general election, but Noem also hopes a campaign war chest amassed since plunging into the national spotlight four years ago can help the GOP take a majority in the U.S. Senate.
NEWS: After Illinois governor dumps $500K in South Dakota's abortion battle, Noem cuts check too
According to Federal Election Commission and state campaign finance filings, the Castlewood native has contributed $1.75 million to conservative candidates and ballot question committees around the country through her federal political action committee. And this week, she cut checks to all 14 GOP candidates contending for the U.S. Senate in next week’s election.
Noem said in a statement provided to The Dakota Scout that ensuring GOP control of the federal legislature betters the chances Trump can enact his agenda if reelected.
“We need to send Donald J. Trump back to the White House, and he needs Republicans in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to help accomplish his America-First vision,” she said. “I will continue doing everything I can to help these candidates win to restore American strength, prosperity, and freedom.”
The GOP candidates each receiving $5,000, the most allowed under campaign finance limits between federal candidates and PACs like Noem’s, include Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Capt. Sam Brown (R-Nev.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Gov. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Eric Hovde (R-Wis.), and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
So where are all the folks outraged by the impact of out of state money? Bottom line it's time for campaign finance reform--and term limits (in spite of the fact that term limits are the reason Kristi is spreading her "war" chest around the country). According to OpenSecrets this election cycle, over 15 billion dollars have been spent by those seeking political office. Consider if you spent $1000 per day it would take about 2740 years to spend 1 billion dollars--and of course if you earned even a pittance of interest on a billion dollars, say three percent, you'd earn 30 million annually and could never spend it all. It's obscene and incontrovertible evidence of the impact of money on elections thanks to the Supreme Court decision in Citizen's United that corporations are people. Huh?