American Bridge 21st Century
| American Bridge 21st Century | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | Super PAC |
| Affiliation: | Democratic |
| Founder(s): | David Brock |
| Year founded: | 2010 |
| Website: | Official website |
American Bridge 21st Century is a Democratic-aligned super PAC focused on opposition research, video tracking, and rapid response strategy.[1]
In the 2020 presidential election, American Bridge spent more than $50 million on ads opposing President Donald Trump (R).[2]
American Bridge was founded by David Brock, who also started the watchdog organization Media Matters and the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC Correct the Record.[3][4]
Mission
As of September 2020, American Bridge's website featured the following mission:[1]
| “ |
Founded in 2010, American Bridge 21st Century is the largest research, video tracking, and rapid response organization in Democratic politics. We find what Republicans are hiding and make sure voters hear about it. In 2017, American Bridge 21st Century created a new Trump War Room to keep Donald Trump and the Republican Party unpopular in order to lay the foundation for Democrats to retake power in 2018. Our research inundated Republicans with negative news stories – uncovering major scandals, keeping investigations into Trump at the top of mind for voters, and shining a harsh light on cronyism and incompetence in the Trump administration. In 2018, we were on the ground in over 30 states, around-the-clock researching, tracking, and responding in real-time. And the results showed: Our work resulted in over 50 million dollars in television coverage last cycle, and helped fuel over 50 victories in contested races up and down the ballot. In 2019 and 2020, American Bridge 21st Century will be laser-focused on taking back all facets of our government. That means flipping state legislatures, protecting and expanding our majority in the House, winning governor’s mansions, taking back the Senate, and above all else, removing Donald Trump from the White House.[5] |
” |
Background
American Bridge 21st Century was founded in 2010 by David Brock as a progressive research and communications super PAC. The aim of the group is to hold conservative politicians accountable for their statements. The super PAC compares candidates' and politicians' statements with their voting records.[6]
American Bridge's website provides profiles of each tracked candidate, providing background information, career highlights, campaign funding, election history, and stances on issues. The site also tracks state campaigns, local campaigns, state ballot measures, state-level legislation.[7]
Work
| Super PACs |
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| Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia. |
2020
Presidential election
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
American Bridge announced in June 2020 that it would spend $20 million on a 10-week ad buy in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The initial ads showed voters who back President Donald Trump (R) in 2016 and were planning to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden (D) in 2020.[8]
In August 2020, the super PAC released a negative ad featuring Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen.[9]
In September 2020, American Bridge launched a $4 million television and radio ad campaign in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania featuring disparaging comments that Trump allegedly made about dead American soldiers.[10]
State legislative campaign
On April 4, 2019, Politico reported that American Bridge was launching a campaign to flip state legislatures ahead of the 2020 census redistricting. The initiative reportedly involved partnering with Democratic groups and creating a three-person research team.[11]
$50 million Midwest campaign
On March 21, 2019, NBC reported that American Bridge officials were on a national fundraising tour designed to raise an extra $50 million to target working-class voters in the Upper Midwest during the 2020 presidential election season.[12]
2016
Correct the Record
Correct the Record, which was founded to counter opposition from Republicans concerning Hillary Clinton's record, began as offshoot of American Bridge. In May 2015, Correct the Record officially broke away from American Bridge and announced its support of then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.[4]
Republican primary elections
During the Republican primary elections, American Bridge criticized some Republican candidates, including Chris Christie, on his stance on guns and abortion rights, Marco Rubio's Senate attendance record, and Jeb Bush for his stance on ISIS and Iraq, among others.[13][14][15]
Focus on Trump, March 2016
In late March 2016, Politico noted that, while the Clinton campaign was focused on the primaries, American Bridge, along with Priorities USA Action and Correct the Record, were looking forward to a possible Donald Trump nomination. American Bridge had been researching Trump for months, preparing for the general election.[16]
Donald Trump pop-up museum
On July 11, 2016, The Washington Post reported that the group set up a pop-up Donald Trump museum near the site of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. The museum included "a collection of articles, 6,000 video clips dating back to the 1980s and about 40 Trump-branded items including bottled water, vodka, golf balls, men’s ties and a child’s onesie." The super PAC hoped the museum would convince voters that Trump's "business practices contradict his rhetoric, and draw attention to his derogatory remarks about women, immigrants and people with disabilities," according to the Post.[17]
2014
Steve King immigration videos
In July 2013, American Bridge played a prank on Republican Steve King after learning that he embedded one of their YouTube videos of his immigration remarks into a fundraising email. The video was originally shot to highlight what the group saw as offensive remarks, but King used it to highlight his stance on immigration. American Bridge re-edited the video to include text saying, "Don’t listen to Steve King’s excuses. Comparing immigrants to dogs is just plain offensive," and a link to a video compilation of his previous immigration remarks.[18]
Political activity
2020-21
CBS News reported that American Bridge was spending about $4 million toward the January 5, 2021, U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia.[19]
Click the links below for more on Georgia's Senate runoff races:
- United States Senate runoff elections in Georgia (January 5, 2021)
- United States Senate election in Georgia, 2020 (Perdue vs. Ossoff runoff)
- United States Senate special election in Georgia, 2020 (Loeffler vs. Warnock runoff)
2016
Targeted candidates
According to its website, American Bridge was monitoring the following politicians in 2016:[20]
- Carly Fiorina (R)
- Chris Christie (R)
- Rand Paul (R)
- Scott Walker (R)
- Marco Rubio (R)
- John Kasich (R)
- Rick Santorum (R)
- Jeb Bush (R)
- Mike Huckabee (R)
- Bobby Jindal (R)
- Ted Cruz (R)
- Ben Carson (R)
- Mitt Romney (R)
- Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)
- Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.)
- Michele Bachmann
- Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
- Gov. Susana Martinez (R-N.M.)
- Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
2014
Targeted candidates
2013
Targeted candidates
2012
Targeted candidates
According to its website, American Bridge monitored the following candidates, or those they saw as potential candidates, in 2012:[22]
- Mitt Romney, President
- Rob Portman, Vice President
- Tim Pawlenty, Vice President
- Paul Ryan, Vice President
- Marco Rubio, Vice President
- Scott Brown, U.S. Senate
- Connie Mack, U.S. Senate
- George LeMieux, U.S. Senate
- Allen West, U.S. House
- Josh Mandel, U.S. Senate
- George Allen, U.S. Senate
- Denny Rehberg, U.S. Senate
- Tommy Thompson, U.S. Senate
- Dean Heller, U.S. Senate
- John Brunner, U.S. Senate
- Todd Akin, U.S. Senate
- Sarah Steelman, U.S. Senate
- Richard Mourdock, U.S. Senate
Finances
The following table outlines American Bridge's annual federal receipts and disbursements according to the Federal Election Commission:[23]
| Annual federal receipts and disbursements for American Bridge 21st Century, 2010-2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Total receipts | Total disbursements |
| 2016[24] | $9,430,821 | $9,569,915 |
| 2015[25] | $10,464,054 | $10,154,811 |
| 2014[26] | $10,468,734 | $10,901,180 |
| 2013[27] | $5,938,421 | $6,415,355 |
| 2012[28] | $8,789,405 | $8,337,431 |
| 2011[29] | $3,729,559 | $2,890,302 |
| 2010[30] | $0 | $0 |
Media
The following videos are samples of media produced by American Bridge:
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Legal status
American Bridge 21st Century is a super PAC. A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees. A super PAC is not legally considered a political action committee (PAC) and as such is regulated under separate rules.[31][32]
Affiliated programs
American Bridge 21st Century Foundation
Founded in 2011, American Bridge 21st Century Foundation is a 501(c)(4). According to the organization, its mission is as follows:[33]
| “ |
American Bridge 21st Century Foundation advocates progressive solutions to America's public policy concerns. Further, the Foundation researches and refutes conservative policies that we believe would undermine our nation's future and educates the American people on the results of those findings.[5] |
” |
Noteworthy events
John Doe investigations
Two John Doe investigations, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015, were launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm (D) into the activities of staff and associates of Gov. Scott Walker (R).[34] American Bridge 21st Century was a supporter of the John Doe investigations. The organization published a press release listing summaries of each of the two investigations.[35]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'American Bridge 21st Century'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- David Brock
- Media Matters for America
- Correct the Record
- Democratic presidential election super PACs, 2016
- John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 American Bridge, "About Us," accessed September 22, 2020
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Targeted Candidates, 2020 Cycle," accessed December 14, 2020
- ↑ Correct the Record, "About," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Washington Post, "How a super PAC plans to coordinate directly with Hillary Clinton’s campaign," May 12, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedabout - ↑ American Bridge, "What We're Monitoring," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Fox News, "Pro-Biden PAC aims to weaken Trump with seniors in key battlegrounds," June 8, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "Dem group releases ad featuring Michael Cohen slamming Trump as GOP convention kicks off," August 24, 2020
- ↑ NBC News, "Democratic group American Bridge launches $4M Midwest ad buy hitting Trump on vets," September 4, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "Another sign Wisconsin will be a top 2020 battleground," accessed April 8, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "Democratic super PAC launches $50 million effort to weaken Trump with core supporters," March 25, 2019
- ↑ NJ.com, "Democratic-leaning group attacks Christie on guns and abortion," January 25, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "Dem super-PAC chides Rubio over missed votes," December 21, 2015
- ↑ American Bridge, "Middle East Ground War: A Bush Family Tradition (Video)," November 20, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Clinton allies urge campaign to torch Trump," March 31, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "At Cleveland convention, a twist on oppo research: a Trump pop-up museum," July 11, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Liberal group pranks Steve King," July 31, 2013
- ↑ CBS News, "'Everybody is looking up to Georgia right now': Early voting kicks off in Senate runoffs," December 16, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedscout - ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 American Bridge, "What We're Monitoring," accessed July 9, 2013
- ↑ American Bridge, "What We're Monitoring," accessed July 6, 2012
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedFEC - ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2016," June 15, 2017
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2015," August 31, 2016
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2014," July 31, 2015
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2013," January 31, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2012," January 31, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2011," May 24, 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "American Bridge 21st Century Year-End Report, 2010," January 28, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "The New York Times' Disingenuous Campaign Against Citizens United," February 24, 2012
- ↑ The New York Times, "Who's Financing the 'Super PACs?" May 7, 2012
- ↑ Guidestar, "American Bridge Foundation, IRS Form 990 (2011/2012)," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Milwaukee Division, "Eric O’Keefe, and Wisconsin Club for Growth, Inc.," accessed February 23, 2015
- ↑ American Bridge 21st Century, "American Bridge Releases Guides To Scott Walker’s Scandals," July 13, 2015
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