How do Interest Groups Impact Elections

• Money! Remember it is easier to lobby a friendly candidate than a non-friendly candidate in politics, so interest groups and lobbyist play large roles in elections.

• We are aware of PACs now, but they also serve to signal the strength in backing of a candidate.

• PACs can support candidates or issues, the latter described as issue advocacy.

• In 2022, there were ~2,000 active PACs in Texas that spent over $393 million.

Interest Groups play a substantive role in mobilization efforts in the state.

• These efforts can be funded through PAC contributions.

• Too much involvement by an interest group can backfire though, as opposition can frame the inject of money from a particular interest group as the politician being "bought."

• Under one-party dominance, influencing an elections is difficult, meaning more financial backing goes to incumbents over challengers.

Money is best targeted to politicians in positions of power.

In the legislature, the Speaker of the House, Committee Chairpersons in both chambers can attract significant financial backing from interest groups due to their unique positions in advancing legislation.

• Money can be used to unseat incumbents, but this is a risky strategy that could alienate your interest group from a position of power in lawmaking for an entire legislative cycle.

• If your policies become toxic to an interest group however, they can choose to spend funds to unseat you.

• Early support of candidates often portends a more favorable relationship with the lawmaker, and is something you can use to your advantage as the lawmake increases their political prominence.

• Interest groups can hedge their bets and support both candidates.

Donors are a huge deal to campaigns, and as we just stated can have an outsized impact on elections, but the increase in cost to political campaigns dovetails with successive Supreme Court Decisions that link campaign finance to the First Amendment.

• Citizens United v. FEC, Buckley v. Valeo

• While donor identities can be obfuscated through PACs and corporations, campaign donations do have to be reported - if not limited. Lawmakers also must account for their spending.

• Looking at where donations come from to Texas lawmakers and how they are spending tells a significant amount about interests groups that are engaging with the politician - and their support relative to large money donors, businesses, and small dollar local donors.

Current Speaker of the State House Dade Phelan (R, Beaumont) was in a headed primary and subsequent run-off election earlier this year.

• Phelan amassed $7.2 million in donations from 2023- early 2024, his challenger David Covey raised $900,000.

• Both candidates highest single donor was not from the city they represent, with the majority of donations coming from cities outside the candidates' district.

Phelan raised $256,000 from Beaumont residents, with his highest contributions coming from Austin, D.C., Houston, and Dallas.

• While nearly 100% of Coveys contributions came from Texas, only ~80% of Phelans contributions were from Texas.

Five of Phelans top 10 donors were interest groups or PACs (3 for Covey), with both campaigns seeing more contributions from organizations than individuals.

• It is not just candidates, its policy issue areas that interest groups support.

Think tanks (in addition to donors from inside and outside the state) were particularly influential in the debate within the Republican Party of Texas to prioritize and pass legislation to authorize school vouchers.

• Governor Abbott addressed the Texas Public Policy Foundation (a conservatively aligned state think tank) during its annual policy summit noting that "We would not be on the threshold of success if it were not for TP.

• The think tank has pushed for pro-voucher legislation since 1989, spending millions to target anti-voucher opposition.

• It is not a coincidence that this discussion in Texas on vouchers takes place in the context of the broader discussions concerning the quality of the Texas public education system.