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The People's Pledge is a formal campaign finance agreement between all candidates and their campaigns in a given election. It aims to reduce non-party group spending in an election by limiting expenditures to candidates’ campaigns and party committees.[1] The Pledge requires candidates to pay a penalty if outside spending groups spend on behalf of their campaign. Outside spending is defined as any independent expenditure by a non-party group to benefit a candidate.

The People's Pledge was developed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown during the 2012 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts. The candidates publicly called on outside groups to stop spending in support of either candidate. They then agreed to pay a penalty equal to half the amount of any outside expenditure from their campaign account to a charity of the opponent's choice.[2]

In the 2012 U.S Senate election in Massachusetts, the Pledge significantly reduced outside spending.[3] People's Pledges have been implemented in 2014 primary elections and proposed in numerous federal races. Common Cause, Public Citizen Common Cause, Public Campaign Action Fund, and the Public Interest Research Group launched a campaign to promote the People's Pledge in the 2014 election cycle.[4]

In addition to the 2012 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts, a People's Pledge was implemented in the democratic primary for the 2013 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts[5] and the democratic primary for the 2014 gubernatorial election in Rhode Island.[6] The Pledge has been proposed by at least one candidate in the 2012 U.S. Senate election in Maine,[7] the 2013 mayoral election in Los Angeles[8] and the 2014 U.S. Senate elections in Kentucky,[1] New Hampshire,[9] and Alaska.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b LeBlanc, Steve (July 5, 2014). "Candidates ramping up calls for people's pledge". Associated Press. It's since been proposed by candidates — Republican and Democrat — in Senate races this year in Alaska, Kentucky and New Hampshire.
  2. ^ Eggen, Dan (January 23, 2012). "Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren pledge to curb outside campaign spending". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  3. ^ Miller, Joshua (May 2, 2013). "Group's study backs pact that limited outside political spending - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ Bielke, Rick (January 30, 2014). "Reformers Launch National "Voters First" Pledge to Build Support for Public Funding of Congressional Campaigns". Common Cause.
  5. ^ State House News Service (February 13, 2013). "Markey, Lynch Sign Primary Race 'People's Pledge'". WBUR News. Wbur.org. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  6. ^ Morgan, Thomas J. "3 Democratic candidates for R.I. governor sign 'People's Pledge' deal on outside money". Providence Journal. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Sharp, David (June 14, 2012). "Maine Senate candidate challenges opponents to sign 'People's Pledge' style agreement to curb super PACs". The Republican. Associated Press.
  8. ^ Linthicum, Kate (January 17, 2013). "New twist in L.A. Mayor's race: The 'People's Pledge'". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ James Pindell (April 8, 2014). "Following Shaheen, Shea-Porter asks her GOP opponents to take 'People's Pledge'". Wmur.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  10. ^ Sullivan, Sean (June 10, 2014). "The 'People's Pledge' is back in Alaska. Wait, what the heck is that?". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Pledge_(United_States)