Follow the Money: How big money donors circumvent fundraising caps through PACs

New Nevada. Growth & Opportunity. Leadership in Nevada.

These groups are just a handful of Nevada Political Action Committees that played a major role in the 2016 campaign cycle, and don’t let their vague, buzzword-filled names fool you — these groups raised more than $14.8 million (and spent $14.2 million) over the 2016 campaign cycle.

That’s more than the $14.2 million that individual legislators reported raising over the 2016 campaign cycle, and PACs are generally subject to fewer rules than individual candidate accounts.

Under Nevada law, individuals and businesses are prohibited from giving more than $10,000 to statewide candidates for their primary and general elections, but there’s no such limit on contributions on PACs, leading many legislators to take advantage and pad their campaign finance reports and take in even more donations.

There are rules around PACs — they’re subject to the same $5,000 contribution limitation to individual candidates for both the primary and general elections, and state law specifically prohibits “straw man” or conduit contributions made through PACs.

Using information from the Nevada Secretary of State’s online campaign finance portal, we pulled historical campaign contributions and expenditures from dozens of PACs going back to 2011. Below we’ve highlighted the major donations or expenditures made during the 2016 campaign cycle.

As always, Nevada Independent reporters double checked all of the figures, but if you see a counting error or missing PAC, send an email to [email protected] or [email protected].

HIGHEST SPENDING AMONG ACTIVE PACs SINCE 2011:

Nevada Jobs Coalition PAC (Legislative Republicans): $5.05 million
New Nevada PAC (Gov. Brian Sandoval): $3.33 million
Growth & Opportunity PAC (Minority Leader Paul Anderson): $2.33 million
Searchlight Leadership Fund (former Sen. Harry Reid): $618,000
Morning in Nevada PAC (Attorney General Adam Laxalt): $504,355
Nevada’s Future PAC (Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford): $401,000
Sunrise Leadership PAC (Democratic Sen. Mo Denis): $256,000
NV Majority PAC (Republican Sen. Ben Kieckhefer): $241,000
Red Zone PAC (Minority Leader Paul Anderson): $223,000
Leadership in Nevada PAC (Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson): $181,000

PACs SUPPORTING REPUBLICANS:

A Bolder Nevada

Republican Sen. Joe Hardy’s PAC raised $5,000 over the 2016 election cycle, $116,700 over its lifetime. The PAC spent $8,000 in 2015 and 2016, for a total of $124,000 over its lifetime.

Major contributions:

$2,500 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund
$2,500 from R&S Leasing, owned by Robert “Bobby” Ellis, president and CEO of Snap Towing

Major expenditures:

$6,000 to the Nevada Jobs Coalition
$2,000 to Committee to Elect Carrie Buck (Republican senate candidate in 2016)

A Brighter Nevada

A second PAC run by Hardy raised $14,000 this election cycle and $53,000 since its inception. The PAC has given $18,000 this cycle and $56,235 since 2011.

Major contributions:

$3,000 from Bilbray Industries, a real estate company
$3,000 from Farmers Group
$5,000 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund
$3,000 from the Nevada Orthopedic Society’s BONE PAC

Major expenditures:

$14,000 to the Nevada Jobs Coalition
$2,000 to the Committee to Elect Patricia Farley (Republican senator)
$2,000 to the Committee to Elect Carrie Buck (Republican senate candidate in 2016)

All for Nevada PAC

Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson formed a new PAC on June 30, just a couple of weeks after losing the Republican primary in Congressional District 3. In just six months, the PAC raised $145,000 and spent $126,000.

Major contributions:

$20,000 from Las Vegas Sands Corp.
$15,000 from Citizens for Justice Trust, a political action committee for trial lawyers
$10,000 from MGM Resorts
$10,000 from Mike Sloan, senior vice president of government relations at Fertitta Entertainment
$10,000 from Dollar Loan Center, a payday lender
$6,000 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund
$5,000 from Sierra Air Conditioning
$5,000 from the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers
$5,000 from Nevada Conservation League Political Action Committee

Major expenditures:

$90,000 to Nevada Jobs Coalition
$10,500 to October Inc., for consulting expenses
$6,500 to Friends of Carrie Buck (Republican senate candidate in 2016)
$5,000 to Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$5,000 to Friends of Victoria Seaman (former Republican assemblywoman and senate candidate in 2016)

Battle Born Nevadan PAC

Republican Sen. James Settelmeyer’s PAC raised $59,500 during the last campaign cycle and $76,000 since it was founded in 2014. It spent $30,000 over the last cycle and $45,500 since 2014.

Major contributions:

$15,000 from Keystone Corporation, a conservative political action organization
$10,000 from the Nevada Truckers Association
$7,500 from Morning in Nevada PAC, which is registered to Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt
$5,500 from NV Energy
$5,000 from Monte Miller, owner of KeyState Corporate Management, and his wife Susan Miller
$5,000 from Las Vegas Sands Corp.
$2,500 from Nevada Auto Dealers Election Action Committee
$2,000 from National Association of Chain Drug Stores
$2,000 from the Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund
$2,000 from Walmart
$1,500 from Associated General Contractors Build PAC
$1,500 from Anthem Blue Cross

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to the Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$10,000 to Friends of Victoria Seaman (former Republican assemblywoman and senate candidate)
$5,000 to Friends of Carrie Buck (former Republican senate candidate)
$5,000 to a Committee for a Better Nevada

Committee For a Better Nevada

An independent expenditure committee registered to Chrissie Hastie, president of IN Compliance Inc. Since its inception in 2014, the PAC has raised $88,000, including $32,500 this cycle. The PAC spent $32,565 this cycle, $88,012.65 over its lifetime.

Major contributions:

$17,500 from Morning in Nevada PAC
$5,000 from James Settelmeyer (Republican senator)
$3,500 from the Nevada Trucking Association
$3,500 from the Retail Association of Nevada
$3,000 from the Nevada Auto Dealers Election Action Committee

Major expenditures:

$30,000 to Tagged Digital Strategies for advertising-related expenses
$2,515 to IN Compliance Inc. for office and consulting expenses

Education Reform PAC
A third PAC registered to Hardy, Education Reform PAC says it is dedicated to electing “candidates who support education reform in Nevada.” The PAC has raised $17,500 and spent $16,650 since it was formed last year on July 29.

Major contributions:

$10,000 from Wynn Resorts
$2,500 from the Nevada Federation for Children, the Nevada arm of the national American Federation for Children, a school choice advocacy group based in Washington D.C. The group’s former chairwoman is Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
$2,500 from Hirschi Masonry, a masonry contractor in Las Vegas
$1,500 from Alpha Landscapes, a landscape and custom pool business in Las Vegas
$1,000 from Zuffa, the former UFC parent company

Major expenditures:

$5,000 to the Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$5,000 to the Friends of Carrie Buck (former Republican senate candidate)
$5,000 to the Nevada Jobs Coalition
$1,650 to Advanced Micro Targeting for consultant-related expenses

Growth and Opportunity PAC

Anderson formed the Growth and Opportunity Project and its affiliated PAC in 2014 to support Republican Assembly candidates. The PAC has raised $2.48 million over its lifetime, including $1.98 million during the 2016 election cycle. It has spent $2.33 million since its inception, including $2.01 million in the 2016 cycle.

Major contributions:

$1.06 million from GOPAC Election Fund, a Republican state and local political training organization
$114,400 from the Committee to Elect Paul Anderson
$100,000 from the New Nevada PAC
$80,000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee, a national group that works to elect down-ballot, state-level Republican officeholders
$60,000 from the New Nevada PAC
$60,000 from Las Vegas Sands and one of its properties
$40,000 from MGM Resorts
$55,000 from Wynn Resorts and one of its properties
$58,208 from Friends of Derek Armstrong (former Republican assemblyman)
$25,000 from the Nevada Home Builders Association PAC
$21,500 from the Las Vegas Police Protective Association
$20,000 from Caesars Enterprise Services
$18,000 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund
$16,250.50 from Station Casinos and one of its properties
$16,000 from NV Energy
$15,000 from Citizens for Justice Trust, a political action committee for trial lawyers
$15,000 from Republic Services
$15,000 from Creekside Investment, an independent investment management company
$12,000 from the Committee to Elect Artemus Ham (former Republican assembly candidate)
$12,000 from the Committee to Elect Keith Pickard (Republican assemblyman)
$10,000 from Affinity Gaming
$10,000 from Coeur Mining, which operates a silver-gold mine in Rochester
$10,000 from Leading Builders of America, an association of homebuilders
$10,000 from the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
$10,000 from Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, a wine and spirits distributor
$10,000 from Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers

Major expenditures:

$602,375.20 to Silverstreak, LLC for expenses related to volunteers
$497,622.64 to consultants and staff including Cathy Pool, Celssie Hardy, Cory Christensen, Ed Gonzalez, Eric Roberts, John Reber, Justin Harrison, Nancy Mackay, Tony Castagno
$265,000 to Red Zone PAC
$162,548.62 to Mastercard Black for office, travel, advertising and special event expenses
$118,124.96 to Red Digital for advertising-related expenses
$42,800 to Nevada Jobs Coalition
$30,460.29 to Russell Williams Design for advertising-related expenses
$18,360 to NorthStar Campaign Systems for advertising expenses
$14,630.22 to Friends of Derek Armstrong (former Republican assemblyman)
$13,663.65 to Nevada Support Staff for paid staff expenses
$15,958.32 to Friends for Nick Phillips (former Republican Assembly candidate)
$12,000 to LV Opportunity Partners for office expenses
$10,808.10 to Visa Black Card for office and travel-related expenses
$10,567.32 to Friends of Tiffany Jones (former Republican Assembly candidate)
$10,443.54 to Friends for Stephen Silberkraus (former Republican assemblyman)
$10,000 to Red Wave for advertising-related expenses

Morning in Nevada PAC

Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s PAC, established in 2015, has raised $420,573.74 over its lifetime and spent $504,355.96. The PAC’s name is an homage to one of Republican President Ronald Reagan’s campaign ads, which featured the opening line, “It’s morning in America again.”

Major contributions:

$50,000 from Las Vegas Sands, including $25,000 from the company and another $25,000 from its CEO Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam Adelson
$20,000 from Duniry LLC, affiliated with Kildare Holdings and Moku Maluhia
$20,000 from Wynn Resorts
$20,000 from Station Casinos
$20,000 from Starpoint Resort Group, a timeshare developer in Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah and Washington
$20,000 from the Nevada Trucking Association
$15,000 from Mike Sloan, senior vice president of government relations at Fertitta Entertainment
$15,000 from Cary Katz, who founded the College Loan Corporation in 1999 and served as the principal at ELA Corporation, a student loan marketing company
$10,000 from Marnell Gaming
$10,000 from Ahern Rentals, which rents heavy construction equipment
$10,000 from Cox Communications
$10,000 from Western Nevada Supply, a plumbing supply distributor
$10,000 from Zuffa, the former parent company of UFC
$8,000 from Tito Tiberti, the vice president, secretary and director at Coast Casinos
$7,500 from Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, the holding company for Arizona Public Service, which generates, sells and delivers electricity and energy-related products
$7,000 from Sloane Castleman, a Republican donor from Incline Village
$7,000 from Right Nevada PAC, Assemblyman Jim Wheeler’s PAC
$5,000 from Altria Client Services, the parent company of Philip Morris and other tobacco companies
$5,000 from American Advisors Group, a reverse mortgage lender
$5,000 from Bristlecone Holdings, a Reno-based financing company
$5,000 from Champion Chevrolet, a Reno car dealership
$5,000 from Douglas Brown, whose address is listed at the Mandarin Oriental
$5,000 from FreedomWorks, a conservative and libertarian advocacy group based in Washington D.C.
$5,000 from Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
$5,000 from Howard Hughes Properties
$5,000 from Inc. Authority, a company that offers online incorporation services
$5,000 from John Stanko, the principal of Champion Chevrolet
$5,000 from Newmont Mining

Major expenditures:

$52,165.45 to Liberty Food & Wine for special-event related expenses
$47,082.02 to j3 Strategies for travel, special events and consulting expenses
$45,487.68 to J.T. Basque Restaurant for special-event related expenses
$33,537.36 to Alternative Management, for office and consultant related e
$17,500 to Committee for a Better Nevada
$18,629.31 to Corley Ranches for special-event related expenses
$12,979.77 to Camelot Party Rentals for special-event related expenses
$12,681.56 to Andrew Matthews, for staff expenses
$12,671.00 to The Entertainer for special-event related expenses
$12,500 to Nevada Federation of Republican Women
$10,000 to Adam Laxalt for Attorney General
$10,000 to Republican Women of Northern Nevada PAC
$10,000 to Friends of Carrie Buck (Republican senator)
$10,000 to Friends of Jill Tolles (Republican assemblywoman)
$10,000 to Friends of Victoria Seaman (former Republican assemblywoman and senate candidate)
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Jill Dickman (former Republican assemblywoman)
$8,729.10 to Advantage Direct for miscellaneous expenses
$7,562.50 to Holtzman Vogel Josefiak for consulting expenses
$7,500 to Pistachio Productions for special-event related expenses
$5,677.80 to Acquire Digital, LLC for special-event related expenses
$5,400 to Running Bull Productions for special-event related expenses
$5,500 to David A. Clarke Jr. for special-event related expenses
$5,000 to Battle Born Nevada PAC
$5,000 to Hawley for Missouri (Missouri’s attorney general)
$5,000 to Committee to Elect Jim Marchant (Republican assemblyman)
$5,000 to Friends of Richard McArthur (Republican assemblyman)

Nevada Jobs Coalition PAC

The PAC is yet another one of the organizations affiliated with legislative Republicans, registered to IN Compliance’s Chrissie Hastie. The coalition conducts independent expenditure activities related to Republican campaigns, typically through mailers and other forms of advertisements. The PAC has raised $5.08 million since it was established in 2012, including $2.4 million in the last cycle. Over its lifetime, the PAC has spent $5.05 million, including $2.37 million in the last cycle.

Major contributions:

$600,000 from the Republican State Leadership Conference, a national group that works to elect down-ballot, state-level Republican officeholders
$500,000 from Matthew Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee
$690,000 from New Nevada PAC, registered to Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval
$95,000 from the Senate Republican Leadership Conference
$80,000 from Michael Roberson, Senate Minority Leader
$70,000 from Station Casinos and its CEO Frank Fertitta
$47,500 from International Game Technology
$30,600 from the Committee to Elect Paul Anderson
$30,000 from Marnell Gaming and two of its properties
$25,000 from NV Majority PAC, registered to Republican Sen. Ben Kieckhefer
$21,400 from Growth & Opportunity PAC, registered to Republican Assembly leader Paul Anderson
$15,000 from Women’s Leadership Alliance, registered to Republican Sen. Becky Harris
$10,000 from All for Nevada PAC, registered to Republican senate leader Michael Roberson
$10,000 from Charles Mathewson, the former chairman of IGT (International Game Technology)
$10,000 from the Committee to Elect Joe Hardy
$10,000 from Heinz Ranch Land Company, which owns a ranch in Truckee Meadows
$10,000 from Western Nevada Supply Company, a plumbing supply distributor

Major expenditures:

$1,322,256.41 to November Inc. and its independent expenditure arm for advertising
$806,569.97 to Advanced Micro Targeting for polling and advertising related expenses
$73,314 to the Tarrance Group for polling-related expenses
$22,521.50 to WBW Strategies for consultant and polling-related expenses
$21,501.61 to Autumn Productions for consulting expenses
$20,788.65 to FLS Connect for advertising-related expenses
$18,469.23 to October Inc. for consulting expenses
$17,317 to Tagged Digital for advertising-related expenses
$16,899.56 to Jim Denton Associates Inc. for advertising-related expenses
$15,017.55 to IN Compliance Inc. for office, travel and consulting expenses

NV Majority PAC

Sen. Ben Kieckhefer’s PAC has raised about $249,000 since 2011, including $95,750 during the 2016 election cycle. The group spent approximately $90,000 over 2015 and 2016, and roughly $241,000 since 2011.

Major contributions:

$20,000 from Switch
$10,000 from Eldorado Resorts
$7,500 from Farmers Group Inc.
$5,500 Nevada Orthopedic Society’s BONE PAC
$5,000 from McDonald Carano Wilson, a law and government affairs firm where Kieckhefer works
$5,000 from NV Energy

Major expenditures:

$42,500 to the Senate Republican Leadership Conference
$25,000 to the Nevada Jobs Coalition, a PAC that supports legislative Republican candidates
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$8,011.26 to October Inc. for consulting-related expenses

New Majority PAC

Assemblyman Ira Hansen’s PAC, formed in January 2016, has raised about $68,000 and spent $72,246.57.

Major contributions:

$10,000 from Nevada Corporate Headquarters Inc., an incorporating company
$10,000 from the Committee to Improve Nevada’s Economy and Education System, a PAC formed by Retail Association of Nevada president and CEO Mary Lau
$10,000 from Monte Miller, owner of KeyState Corporate Management, and his wife Susan Miller
$10,000 from the Nevada Trucking Association
$10,000 from Curtis DeBord, CEO at U.S. Ordinance
$10,000 from the Committee to Elect Ira Hansen
$5,000 from Jensen Precast, a concrete manufacturer based in Sparks
$1,500 from First Leasing Inc., listed at the same address as Jim Marsh Kia

Major expenditures:

$51,689 to Bieber Communications for advertising-related expenses
$15,514.57 to the Reno Print Store for advertising-related expenses
$5,000 to Media Placement Services for advertising-related expenses

New Nevada PAC

Gov. Brian Sandoval’s New Nevada PAC, created shortly after the governor took office in 2011, is one of the biggest Republican fundraising machines in the state. The PAC raised almost $975,000 over the 2016 election cycle and a total of $3.389 million since it was founded. The group also spent $1.018 million over the cycle and $3.333 million over its lifetime.

Major contributions:

$225,000 from MGM Resorts
$130,000 from Leading Builders of America, an association of homebuilders
$100,000 from Wynn Resorts and one of its properties
$60,000 from Phil Ruffin, owner of Treasure Island
$60,000 from Resorts World Las Vegas
$50,000 from Craig Estey, founder of Dotty’s
$45,000 from Boyd Gaming
$35,000 from Newmont Mining
$30,000 from Caesars Enterprise Service
$26,500 from Station Casinos and one of its properties
$20,000 from Cox Communications
$20,000 from Switch
$20,000 from the Nevada Subcontractors Association
$15,000 from Barrick Gold
$10,000 from Brady Industries, a janitorial and sanitation wholesale distribution company
$10,000 from Reno Land Development Company
$10,000 from the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
$8,000 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government PAC
$5,000 from Harrah’s Las Vegas
$5,000 from Southwest Gas
$5,000 from TitleMax, a title-lending company
$5,000 from Charles Mathewson, the former chairman of IGT (International Game Technology)
$5,000 from MNCA Health Care Holdings, a dental benefits administrator
$5,000 from Ormat Nevada, an alternative and renewable energy provider
$5,000 from Golden Entertainment
$5,000 from Farmers Insurance
$5,000 from Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, a wine and spirits distributor

Major expenditures:

$690,000 to Nevada Jobs Coalition
$128,544.59 to October Inc., for office, consulting, travel and special event expenses
$50,000 to Growth & Opportunity PAC
$13,424.24 to IN Compliance Inc., for office, consulting and travel expenses
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$10,000 to Committee to Elect James Oscarson (Republican assemblyman)
$10,000 to Stephen Silberkraus (former Republican assemblyman)
$10,000 to Friends of David Gardner (former Republican assemblyman)
$10,000 to Friends of Derek Armstrong (former Republican assemblyman)
$5,000 to Committee to Elect Ben Kieckhefer (Republican senator)
$5,000 to Erv Nelson for State Assembly (former Republican assemblyman and senate candidate)
$5,000 to Friends of Carrie Buck (Republican senate candidate)
$5,000 to Friends of Scott Hammond (Republican senator)

Red Zone PAC

Another PAC registered to Assembly Minority Leader Paul Anderson, Red Zone PAC has raised $265,000 and spent $223,000 (with another $23,000 in in-kind expenses) since it was formed in 2015.

Major contributions:

$265,000 from Growth & Opportunity PAC

Major expenditures:

$108,594.91 to Campaign Data Solutions for advertising-related expenses
$60,875.04 to Red Digital for advertising-related expenses
$37,607.78 to Majority Strategies for advertising-related expenses
$16,000 to Red Wave for advertising-related expenses
$6,646.64 in in-kind expenses to Chris Edwards for Nevada (Republican assemblyman)
$6,366.32 in in-kind expenses to Ken Rezendes (former Republican assembly candidate)
$5,437.44 in in-kind expenses to Tiffany Jones (former Republican assembly candidate)
$4,823.04 in in-kind expenses to Nick Phillips (former Republican assembly candidate)

Republican Majority Alliance

This PAC, registered to Republican Sen. Becky Harris, has raised $37,250 and spent about $35,000 since it was formed in 2015.

Major contributions:

$5,000 from Santa Fe Station Hotel & Casino
$5,000 from the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association
$4,000 from Southwest Gas
$3,500 from Motorola Solutions
$3,000 from the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers
$3,000 from CenturyLink
$2,500 from NV Energy
$2,500 from Coeur Mining, which operates a silver-gold mine in Rochester
$2,000 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund
$1,500 from the Nevada Psychological Association
$1,000 from David Rosenberg, a Las Vegas attorney
$1,000 from Capitol Partners, a lobbying firm
$1,000 from R&S Leasing, owned by Robert “Bobby” Ellis, president and CEO of Snap Towing
$1,000 from PhRMA, a trade group representing pharmaceutical companies

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to Friends of Carrie Buck (former Republican senate candidate)
$10,000 to Nelson for Nevada (former Republican assemblyman and senate candidate)
$7,500 to Defending Main Street Super PAC, the political arm of the national Republican Main Street Partnership
$5,000 to Nevada Jobs Coalition
$1,100 to Advanced Micro Targeting for consulting expenses
$1,000 to Michael Wixom for Regent (a former regent)

Right Nevada PAC

This PAC, registered to Republican Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, has raised $44,000 since it was formed earlier this year. It has spent $17,000 over the same time frame.

Major contributions:

$20,000 from Las Vegas Sands Corp.
$5,000 from the Nevada Trucking Association
$5,000 from Tom Starrett, a lawyer from Gardnerville
$5,000 from Wheeler 4 Nevada
$5,000 from Citizens for Liberty, a PAC registered to Matthew Capalby, an Arizona-based campaign strategist
$4,000 from Albemarle, a lithium mining company

Major expenditures:

$14,000 to Morning in America PAC
$3,000 to Bonnie Weber (former Republican assembly candidate)

SB302 PAC

Named after the controversial school choice bill passed last session, SB302 PAC is registered to Republican Sen. Scott Hammond. The PAC has been active since last year, raising $2,500 and spending $12.50.

Major contributions:

$2,500 from the Nevada Credit Union League PAC

Major expenditures:

$12.50 to Nevada State Bank

Women’s Leadership Alliance

Formed by Republican Sen. Becky Harris, this PAC has raised $33,500 and spent $29,450 since it was formed in 2015. The PAC’s purpose is to “recruit and elect women to the Nevada State Senate.”

Major contributions:

$5,500 from Zuffa, the former parent company of UFC
$5,000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee, a national group that works to elect down-ballot, state-level Republican officeholders
$5,000 from NV Energy
$3,000 from Ninety Five Management
$2,500 from Farmers Insurance
$2,000 from the Nevada Anesthesia Patient Safety PAC
$1,500 from Peppermill Resort
$1,500 from Valley Electric Association
$1,500 from K-12 Management, a company that sells online curriculum to state and local governments; five online public schools in Nevada use K-12’s curriculum: Nevada Virtual Academy, Great Basin Virtual Academy, Destinations Career Academy of Nevada, Nevada Passport Academy and Northeastern Nevada Virtual Academy.
$1,500 from NVOS BONE PAC, political arm of the Nevada Orthopaedic Society
$1,000 from Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, a law and government affairs firm
$1,000 from Sierra Air Conditioning
$1,000 from Howard Hughes Properties
$1,000 from Reynolds American Incorporated, a tobacco company

Major expenditures:

$15,000 to Nevada Jobs Coalition, which support Republican legislative candidates
$10,000 to Friends of Carrie Buck (former Republican senate candidate)
$2,500 to Committee to Elect Heidi Gansert (Republican senator)
$1,500 to Advanced Micro Targeting for consulting-related expenses

PACs SUPPORTING DEMOCRATS:

Buckskin Mountain PAC

Registered to Democratic Sen. Tick Segerblom, who named it after a gold mine north of rural Winnemucca, this PAC has been active since at least 2012 and raised $32,100 while spending $33,500 during the 2016 campaign cycle. Since 2012, it’s raised at last $103,100 and spent $98,800.

Major contributions:

$10,000 from Citizens for Justice Trust, a trial lawyer’s PAC.
$5,000 from Clark County Education Association
$5,000 from Committee to Elect Tick Segerblom
$3,000 from Nevada Future PAC, which is registered to Democratic Sen. Aaron Ford.
$2,500 from Committee to Elect Chris Giunchigliani, a Las Vegas City Councilwoman
$2,500 from Integral Associates LLC, a medical marijuana dispensary
$1,000 from Alternative Solutions, LLC, a medical marijuana dispensary
$1,00 from Trudi Lytle, a former Clark County School District who Segerblom represented in a 2004 court case.
$1,000 from Maddox Segerblom and Canepa, a law firm in Las Vegas.
$1,000 from Matthew Sharp, a trial lawyer in Reno.

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to Devon Reese for State Senate
$10,000 to Nicole Cannizzaro, Senate District 6
$9,000 to Joyce Woodhouse for Senate
$4,500 to Committee to Elect Tick Segerblom

Equality PAC

This PAC, registered to Democratic state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, has been in operation since 2014 and raised $29,900 during the 2016 campaign cycle while spending about $20,600. It reported raising $50,450 since 2014 and spending nearly $34,000 over the same period of time.

Major contributions:

$10,000 from Nevada Leads, a PAC associated with the state teacher’s union.
$10,000 from Nevada’s Future PAC, which is registered to Democratic Sen. Aaron Ford.
$5,000 from NV Energy
$1,500 from Committee to Elect Aaron Ford (Democratic senate majority leader)
$1,000 from Committee to Elect Jason Frierson (Democratic assembly speaker)
$750 from Campaign for Dina Neal, Democratic Assemblywoman.

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to Committee to Elect Devon Reese (former Democratic senate candidate)
$2,500 to Committee to Elect Alexander Marks (former Democratic senate candidate)
$2,000 to Ron Decar’s Event Center

Leadership in Nevada PAC

This is one of several PACs associated with Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, and has only been operating during the 2016 campaign cycle. It has raised $332,000 since the start of 2015 and spent $180,500.

Major contributions:

$75,000 from Nevada Leads, a PAC associated with the Clark County teacher’s union.
$70,000 from Citizens for Justice Trust, a PAC for trial lawyers.
$25,000 from Nevada State Education Association’s political PAC
$25,000 from DRIVE Committee, the political arm of the Teamster’s Union
$19,000 from Committee to Elect Jason Frierson
$14,500 from Nevada Home Builders Association PAC
$12,500 from Laborers International Union Local 872
$10,000 from Switch LTD
$10,000 from MGM Resorts
$10,000 from Nevada State Democratic Party
$10,000 from Station Casinos, including Boulder Station Hotel & Casino and Palace Station.
$8,000 from White Rabbit PAC, which is located at the same address as Laborers International Union 570
$5,500 from Zuffa, the former parent company of UFC
$5,000 from Laborer's International Union of North America Local 169
$4,000 from Nevadans for Protecting Our Rights, an inactive PAC registered to Reno attorney Thomas Drendel.
$4,000 from Cox Communications
$2,500 from Golden Entertainment
$2,500 from MCNA Health Care Holdings
$2,500 from IGT
$2,500 from Nevada Anaesthesia Patient Safety PAC
$2,500 from Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, LLC
$2,500 from NVAHF PAC, the political arm of the Nevada Health Care Association.
$2,000 from Committee to Elect Chris Giunchigliani
$2,000 from Nevada Republic Alliance, a PAC that lists the same address as Laborers International Union 570
$2,000 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund, the political arm of the company that operates a number of Las Vegas hospitals.
$2,000 from the Association of Gaming and Equipment Manufacturers
$1,500 from Peppermill Casino.

Major expenditures:

$140,000 to the Nevada State Democratic Party.
$18,500 to Sinclair Strategies, a political consulting and marketing firm
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Steve Yeager (Democratic assemblyman)
$5,000 to Committee to Elect Sandra Jauregui (Democratic assemblywoman)
$5,000 to Friends of Lesley Cohen (Democratic assemblywoman)
$2,000 to Public Policy Polling.

Majority 2016

Formerly known as Majority 2014, this PAC led by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford has been around since at least 2011 and raised $33,750 during the 2016 campaign, spending $34,000. Since 2011, it has raised about $101,000 and spent slightly more than $99,000.

Major contributions:

$11,500 from Nevada Senate Democratic Caucus
$8,750 from Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa Casino
$7,500 from Las Vegas Metro Chamber
$2,000 from Nevada State AFL-CIO
$1,000 from Committee to Elect Mo Denis (Democratic senator)
$1,000 from Debbie Smith Campaign (former Democratic senator)
$1,000 from Committee to Elect Aaron Ford (Democratic senate majority leader)
$1,000 from Enterprise Holdings, Inc. PAC

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to Committee to Elect Nicole Cannizzaro (Democratic senator)
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Devon Reese (former Democratic senate candidate)
$9,000 to Project New America, a progressive polling and consultant firm.
$3,500 to Friends for Joyce Woodhouse (Democratic senator)
$1,500 to Nevada Senate Democrats.

Nevada Forward

The PAC, which was has been in existence since 2011, is registered to Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson and raised $42,500 during the 2016 campaign cycle while spending $15,500. Since 2011, it’s raised nearly $99,000 and spent $55,645.

Major contributions:

$15,000 from Campaign Committee to Elect Jason Frierson
$12,500 from Laborers International Union Local 872
$7,500 from NV Energy
$5,000 from Caesars
$2,500 from Southwest Gas

Major expenditures:

$6,000 to Committee to Elect Steve Yeager (Democratic assemblyman)
$5,000 to Project New America, a progressive polling and consultant firm.
$2,500 to Committee to Elect Ozzie Fumo (Democratic assemblyman)
$2,000 to Public Policy Polling

Nevada Leadership Team

This PAC, lead by former Assembly Democratic leader Irene Bustamante Adams, has only been active since 2015. It raised $69,500 during the 2016 election cycle, and spent $27,000.

$20,000 from the Las Vegas Police Protection Agency
$15,000 from Citizens for Justice, the PAC for trial lawyers.
$10,000 from various Station Casinos properties, including Texas Station and Boulder Station.
$5,000 from International Association of Firefighters
$5,000 from NV Energy
$3,000 from Peppermill Casinos
$2,500 from Nevada Anaesthesia Patient Safety PAC
$2,500 from MCNA Health Care Holdings.
$2,000 from Southwest Gas
$1,500 from Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers
$1,500 from Toyota
$1,500 from Zuffa, the former parent company of UFC

Major expenditures:

$6,500 to Committee to Elect Sandra Jauregui (Democratic assemblywoman)
$6,500 to Committee to Elect Steven Yeager (Democratic assemblyman)
$5,000 to Friends for Lesley Cohen (Democratic assemblywoman)
$4,500 to Campaign for Brittney Miller (Democratic assemblywoman)
$2,000 to Committee to Elect Ozzie Fumo (Democratic assemblyman)
$616.16 to Committee to Elect Daniele Monroe-Moreno (Democratic assemblywoman)
$500 to Campaign for Justin Watkins (Democratic assemblyman)

Nevada Strong PAC

This PAC, led and mostly funded by freshman Assemblyman Steve Yeager, raised $39,900 during the 2016 campaign cycle and spent $5,200.

Major contributions:

$34,900 from Democratic Assemblyman Steve Yeager and his campaign account.
$5,000 from Las Vegas Police Protective Association.

Major expenditures:

$5,200 to Steve Yeager

Nevada's Future PAC

The PAC, which was registered in 2012 to Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford and mostly gives to the state Democratic party and other candidates, raised $237,500 during the 2016 campaign cycle and spent $209,000. It reported raising about $448,000 since 2011, and spending about $401,000 over that same time period.

Major contributions:

$40,000 from Citizens for Justice, Trust, a trial lawyer’s PAC
$25,000 from the Nevada State Education Association
$20,000 from Cox Communications
$20,000 from Switch LTD
$20,000 from Caesar’s Enterprise Services
$20,000 from MGM Resorts
$17,500 from Committee to Elect Aaron Ford
$15,000 from Nevada Leads, a PAC associated with the Clark County teacher’s union.
$15,000 from LKQ Corporation, an auto parts company that provides wholesale used and refurbished auto parts
$10,000 from Mike Sloan, an executive at Station Casinos
$5,000 from Coeur Mining, a silver and gold mining company that operates in Nevada.
$5,000 from Association Gaming Equip. Manufacturers
$3,500 from Sunrise Health care System Good Government Fund PAC, which operates several hospitals in Las Vegas
$3,000 from MCNA Health Care Holdings
$2,500 from Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, a liquor wholesaler
$2,500 from Zuffa, the former parent company of UFC
$2,500 from Newmont, the mining giant
$2,500 from Walmart
$2,000 from Toyota
$2,000 from National Association of Chain Drug Stores
$1,500 from Ormat Nevada
$1,000 from McDonald Carano Wilson

Major expenditures:

$118,000 to Nevada State Democratic Party
$10,000 to Nevada Senate Democrats
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Alexander Marks (former Democratic senate candidate)
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Devon Reese (former Democratic senate candidate)
$10,000 to Committee to Elect Nicole Cannizzaro (Democratic senator)
$10,000 to Equality PAC, a political PAC led by Democratic state senator Kelvin Atkinson.
$10,000 to Friends for Joyce Woodhouse (Democratic senator)
$10,000 to Partnering for Nevada’s Future PAC, which is registered to Democratic Sen. Joyce Woodhouse.
$8,000 to Sunrise Leadership Fund, a PAC led by Democratic state senator Mo Denis
$5,000 to Campaign to Elect Julia Ratti (Democratic senator)
$5,000 to Spearman for Nevada (Democratic senator Pat Spearman).
$3,000 to Buckskin Mountain PAC, a political PAC led by Democratic state senator Tick Segerblom.

Partnering for Nevada’s Future

This PAC led by Democratic Sen. Joyce Woodhouse raised $14,750 during the 2016 election and spent $14,000. Since 2014, it has raised $41,750 and spent $41,000.

Major contributions:

$10,000 from Nevada’s Future PAC, which is registered to Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford.
$3,750 from Sunset Station Hotel & Casino
$1,000 from NV Energy

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to Committee to Elect Devon Reese (Democratic senate candidate)
$4,000 to Committee to Elect Nicole Cannizzaro (Democratic senate candidate)

Searchlight Leadership Fund

This state-level PAC is run by Chris Anderson, the Finance Director of Friends for Harry Reid and multiple other fundraising groups connected to the former Nevada Senator. It raised $54,500 during the 2016 election cycle and spent $52,000 over that same cycle. Online campaign finance records show the group has raised roughly $610,000 since 2011, and spent $617,700 over the same time span.

Major contributions:

$25,000 from the Fertitta family, including Frank Fertitta, III, Frank Fertitta, IV, Jill Fertitta, Kelly Fertitta and Teresa Fertitta
$5,000 from Shannon J. Finley, a lobbyist based in Washington D.C.
$5,000 from Sheet Metal Workers International Association
$5,000 from Vicky Palivos, wife of Las Vegas developer Peter Palivos.
$2,500 from Federation of American Hospitals PAC
$2,500 from Kai Anderson, a Washington D.C. based lobbyist.
$2,500 from Fred Nassiri, a Las Vegas developer and wholesale clothing magnate.
$2,500 from Barbara Molasky, a philanthropist and executive with the Rogich Group.
$2,000 from Air Line Pilots Association PAC
$2,000 from Timothy Scully, a lobbyist with MillerCoors.

Major expenditures:

$5,000 to Washoe County Democratic Party
$4,000 to Committee to Elect Sam Bateman (Henderson justice of the peace)
$4,000 to Friends for Debra March, (Henderson city councilwoman running for mayor)
$4,000 to Friends for Gerri Schroder (Henderson city councilwoman)
$4,000 to Committee to Elect Devon Reese (former Democratic senate candidate)
$4,000 to Committee to Elect Nicole Cannizzaro (Democratic senator)
$4,000 to Friends of Joyce Woodhouse (Democratic senator)
$4,000 to Julia Ratti campaign (Democratic senator)
$2,500 to Clark County Democratic Party
$1,500 to Chris Brooks for Assembly (Democratic assemblyman)
$1,500 to Committee to Elect Ozzie Fumo(Democratic assemblyman)
$1,500 to Committee to Elect Sandra Jauregui (Democratic assemblywoman)
$1,500 to Committee to Elect Steven Yeager (Democratic assemblyman)
$1,500 to Committee to Elect Teresa Benitez-Thompson (Democratic assemblywoman)
$1,500 to Skip Daly for Assembly (Democratic assemblyman)
$1,500 to Jason Frierson for Assembly (Democratic speaker of the assembly)
$1,500 to Justin Watkins for Assembly (Democratic assemblyman)
$1,500 to Lesley Cohen campaign (Democratic assemblywoman)
$1,500 to Mike Sprinkle for Assembly (Democratic assemblyman)
$1,500 to Shannon for Nevada (Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, Democratic Assemblywoman)

Sunrise Leadership Fund

This PAC was much more active between 2012 and 2014, when Democratic Sen. Mo Denis was serving as Senate majority leader. While it only received $8,000 in contributions and spent $10,000 during the 2016 election cycle, it has taken in $97,000 in contributions and spent $256,000 according to finance reports filed since 2012.

Major contributions:

$8,000 from Nevada Senate Democrats

Major expenditures:

$10,000 to Committee to Elect Devon Reese (former Democratic state senate candidate)

Women's Empowerment PAC

The PAC, which was formerly run by Democratic Sen. Debbie Smith and is now run by Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, has received about $46,300 and given out nearly $51,000 over its lifetime. During the 2016 campaign cycle, the PAC raised around $26,800 and reported spending around $29,500.

Major contributions:

$2,500 from Committee to Elect Tick Segerblom (Democratic senator)
$2,500 from James Nave, a veterinarian and prominent Democratic party donor.
$2,659 from Chris Giunchigliani (Clark County commissioner)
$2,500 from Committee to Elect Maggie Carlton (Democratic assemblywoman)
$2,500 from Marta Poling Schmitt, President of Nevadans for the Common Good.
$2,000 from Station Casino LLC
$1,000 from Teamsters Local 631
$1,000 from Cayla Witty, an attorney at Lewis Brisbois
$1,000 from Committee to Elect Irene Bustamante Adams (Democratic assemblywoman)
$1,000 from Jay H. Brown, a prominent Las Vegas lobbyist
$1,000 from Citizens for Justice Trust, a trial lawyer PAC
$1,000 from Pfizer

Major expenditures:

$9,000 to Committee to Elect Nicole Cannizzaro (Democratic senator)
$5,000 to Friends for Joyce Woodhouse campaign (Democratic senator)
$4,500 to Committee to Elect Sandra Jauregui (Democratic assemblywoman)
$4,500 to Friends for Lesley Cohen (Democratic assemblywoman)
$4,500 to Shannon for Nevada (Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, Democratic assemblywoman)
$1,351.30 to Nevada Senate Democrats
$500 to Friends for Amber Joiner (Democratic assemblywoman)

Disclosure: Several Indy donors are mentioned in this story. You can see a full list of donors here.

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