alex kotch

May 13, 2016 - Despite a public financing program and an election recently changed to be nonpartisan, West Virginia's recent state Supreme Court race was flooded with outside money. Independent groups spent over $3.5 million, and the biggest beneficiary won by a landslide.

May 6, 2016 - Where does North Carolina's leading conservative donor stand on the state's so-called "bathroom bill"? Art Pope hasn't publicly stated his position on HB2, but he has a long history of funding groups and politicians that support the law, which the Justice Department says illegally discriminates against transgender people.

April 29, 2016 - Following the arrests of over 1,200 people in Washington, D.C. during nonviolent protests against big money in politics, members of Congress are demanding hearings on legislation that aims to protect voting rights and curb corporate influence over elections.

April 22, 2016 - At least 24 companies publicly opposing Mississippi's law allowing discrimination against LGBT people have helped finance the election of the law's sponsors and the governor who signed it. A similar pattern held in North Carolina, which is embroiled in controversy over its own anti-LGBT law.

April 14, 2016 - Thousands of activists are in Washington, D.C. this week for Democracy Spring, a protest movement demanding that Congress rid politics of big money and ensure fair elections. Many Southerners have made the trip north to take part in rallies, marches, and nonviolent civil disobedience.

April 5, 2016 - Over 120 companies are speaking out against North Carolina's controversial new law striking down local anti-discrimination ordinances. But many of these same companies have donated considerable sums to outside political groups that helped elect state lawmakers who sponsored and voted for the legislation.

March 24, 2016 - While outside groups involved in presidential politics don't have much to show for the money they've spent so far on this election, outside spending in North Carolina legislative contests tells a different story: In the 32 contested state House and Senate primary races that drew outside spending, more than 80 percent of the candidates with the most outside support won.