A report by OpenSecrets has revealed that a record amount of untraceable funds is being funneled into politics in anticipation of the crucial 2024 elections. Democrat-aligned groups have emerged as the top recipients of these funds, with approximately $84.5 million received so far. In contrast, Republican-aligned committees have received just over $74 million.

This influx of dark money, totaling around $160 million, marks the highest amount contributed at this point in any election cycle since the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC. According to OpenSecrets, Democratic groups are defined as those targeting Republicans or supporting Democrats, while Republican groups focus on attacking Democrats or endorsing Republicans.

Additionally, groups falling outside of these categories, labeled as “other,” have accounted for approximately $2.4 million in political spending. It is noted that Democrats have consistently garnered more support from dark money groups in each election cycle since 2018.

According to the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, while super PACs are obligated by federal law to disclose their donors in regular reports, social welfare organizations, also known as 501(c)(4) nonprofits, are not required to do so. This creates a situation where these 501(c)(4)s can contribute funds to political committees, resulting in money that is essentially untraceable flowing into the realm of politics.

Additionally, it is worth noting that social welfare organizations funded by foreign entities can also make donations to political committees through this arrangement. Furthermore, certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits not only donate to political committees but also directly spend on political activities themselves, distinguishing them from mere donors.

Defending Democracy Together (DDT) is an organization that has invested approximately $2 million in political activities aimed at opposing former President Donald Trump and supporting Nikki Haley, who later withdrew from the Republican presidential primary, as stated in Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. DDT was co-founded by Bill Kristol, a former Republican and a vocal critic of Trump. The group is supported by the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a dark money organization aligned with the Democratic Party.

According to OpenSecrets, Americans for Prosperity Action, a political committee backed by the Koch brothers, received $25 million in dark money contributions in 2023, making it the highest recipient during that cycle. The organization spent a significant amount to bolster Haley’s campaign, with over $31.2 million allocated to support her unsuccessful bid for the presidency. OpenSecrets also reveals that Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC established in 2011 to assist Democrats in winning Senate seats, received over $16.7 million in dark money, making it the top recipient among Democrat-aligned committees.

On the Republican side, the Senate Leadership Fund, the counterpart to Senate Majority PAC, received approximately $6.2 million in dark money contributions, according to OpenSecrets. Furthermore, specific issue-focused committees also received substantial amounts of dark money. The LCV Victory Fund, an environmentalist group, received nearly $13 million, while the Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund, an organization advocating for gun control, received over $8.5 million in dark money donations.

Influence Watch notes that the primary financier of the Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund is former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. According to OpenSecrets’ report, dark money spending surpassed $500 million in both 2020 and 2022, and it is projected to reach similar levels again.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund, LCV Victory Fund, Senate Leadership Fund, Senate Majority PAC, DDT, and Americans for Prosperity Action for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.