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WelcomePAC
FormationSeptember 16, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-09-16)
FounderLauren Harper
Liam Kerr
Registration no.C00786830
Legal statusHybrid PAC
WebsiteWelcomePAC.org

WelcomePAC is a political action committee that recruits and supports candidates affiliated with the United States Democratic Party.[1]

The group launched during the 2022 midterm election cycle and has been described by the New York Times as a "Democratic-aligned outfit that applies insurgent tactics to support center-left candidates in swing districts".[2] The organization's co-founder has articulated its aim to "become the Justice Democrats of the political center".[3]

The organization is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a hybrid PAC and raised more than $2 million in its inaugural cycle to support Democrats and oppose Republicans in Ohio and California.[4]

Direct action work

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Ohio State House recruitment and endorsements

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In early 2022, WelcomePAC conducted a campaign to recruit "big tent" candidates for the Ohio House of Representatives in the state's Northeast region.[1][5][6] Later in the cycle, the group endorsed 17 state legislature candidates with a commitment to "building a big tent Democratic Party that welcomes in independents and moderate Republicans" in Ohio.[7] In July 2022, the Ohio Capitol Journal reported that LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman had made contributions to WelcomePAC's endorsed state legislature candidates.[8]

Ohio Senate split ticket campaign

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In late 2022, WelcomePAC organized a series of press conferences throughout Ohio featuring local leaders with Republican backgrounds supporting Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan's campaign for Senate against Republican author and venture capitalist J.D. Vance.[9][10][11][12][13][14] The group also ran digital advertisements in the state, encouraging voters who had split their tickets between Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in 2018 to consider voting for Ryan in 2022.[15]

In late October 2022, the group announced an advertising campaign to persuade both moderate and Trump-aligned Republicans not to vote for J.D. Vance and encourage them to split their tickets in support of Tim Ryan.[16] The six-figure campaign consisted of print, radio, and digital ads.[16] Despite unexpectedly competitive poll numbers against Vance, Ryan received minimal support from national Democratic Party committees.[17][18] According to Dayton-based NBC News affiliate WDTN, WelcomePAC was the only national Democratic group to invest significantly in supporting Ryan's campaign.[19] In November 2022, Ryan lost the race for Senate.[20][21][22]

Activities in California's 41st congressional district

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WelcomePAC supported Democrat Will Rollins against Republican Representative Ken Calvert in the 2022 race for California's 41st congressional district.[2][23][24] Rollins lost to Calvert in the November general election.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gaetjens, Bob. "WelcomePAC welcomes Portage Republicans, independents into 'big tent' Democratic party". Record-Courier. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  2. ^ a b Hounshell, Blake; McFadden, Alyce (2022-06-03). "Is Jan. 6 a Winning Political Issue? We're About to Find Out". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  3. ^ Hounshell, Blake (2022-11-19). "Democratic Centrists Lament Missed Opportunities to Keep the House". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  4. ^ "WELCOMEPAC - committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  5. ^ "WelcomePAC seeking candidates for 'big tent' Democratic Party". chroniclet.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  6. ^ "WelcomePAC comes to Medina County to recruit Democratic candidates". medina-gazette.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  7. ^ "WelcomePAC endorses Regan Phillips for Ohio House". chroniclet.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  8. ^ Zuckerman, Jake (2022-07-26). "LinkedIn co-founder pours money into Ohio races". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  9. ^ SPEICHER, MELANIE (2022-09-23). "Lifelong Republicans gather in Cincinnati". Sidney Daily News. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  10. ^ Evans, Nick (2022-10-04). "Ohio Republican group urges GOP, swing voters to reject J.D. Vance". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  11. ^ "Group of former Republican Ohio leaders tout their support for Tim Ryan". The Statehouse News Bureau. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  12. ^ "GOP group in Toledo visit urges voters to back Democrat Tim Ryan". The Blade. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  13. ^ "Republicans urge support for Ryan". sanduskyregister.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  14. ^ Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland com (2022-11-03). "Democrat Tim Ryan is betting on ticket-splitters to win Ohio's U.S. Senate seat. Can it work?". cleveland. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  15. ^ "Oz-Shapiro. Warnock-Kemp. Split-ticket voters loom large in midterms". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  16. ^ a b "Democratic group backing Ryan in Ohio Senate race targets GOP ticket-splitters". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  17. ^ "Tim Ryan 'all by his lonesome' as national Democrats ignore close Ohio Senate race". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  18. ^ Linskey, Annie (October 19, 2022). "Tim Ryan asks why Democrats 'don't smell blood' and help him in Ohio". Washington Post.
  19. ^ "How much each of Ohio's U.S. Senate candidates has in contributions". WDTN.com. 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  20. ^ Kinery, Emma. "Republican J.D. Vance defeats Democrat Tim Ryan in Ohio Senate race, NBC News projects". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  21. ^ "J.D. Vance defeats Tim Ryan in Ohio U.S. Senate race". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  22. ^ Siegel, Josh. "GOP keeps Ohio Senate seat with Vance win". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  23. ^ "These PACs are trying to beat Inland Rep. Ken Calvert". Press Enterprise. 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  24. ^ Skelley, Geoffrey (2022-06-06). "California's Primary Races To Watch". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  25. ^ "Election update Monday: Rollins concedes to Calvert in 41st Congressional District race". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  26. ^ "Rep. Ken Calvert is apparent winner over Will Rollins in 41st Congressional District". Press Enterprise. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
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