outside groups

February 14, 2018 - The news that North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest solicited millions of dollars from a Durham businessman for supposedly "independent" political groups highlights loopholes in state campaign finance law that need to be closed.

February 12, 2018 - Eight years since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision lifting limits on political spending, wealthy interests have gained even more influence over elections while transparency has suffered. But grassroots efforts are underway to shift power back to ordinary citizens.

November 9, 2017 - A poll conducted in Virginia on the eve of the Nov. 7 election found that losing Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie's reliance on anti-immigrant race-baiting did not work — and in fact turned off many of the state's voters, most of whom support welcoming immigration policies.

October 28, 2016 - Political groups unaffiliated with candidates' campaigns have already spent a record amount this election cycle to influence races for state supreme court seats. Among the states seeing big spending are Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina.

November 3, 2014 - Nearly $7 million has flooded into state-level races in North Carolina from outside spending groups, according to a new analysis by FollowNCMoney.org. Unlike in past years, Democratic-leaning groups are close to matching independent expenditures benefiting Republicans.