EMILY’s List creates independent group to boost Greuel candidacy
EMILY’s List, a political organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women, has created an independent expenditure committee and seeded it with $400,000 to buoy Wendy Greuel’s bid for Los Angeles mayor, according to documents filed with the City Ethics Commission on Tuesday.
As long as it doesn’t coordinate with a candidate, such an independent committee can receive unlimited donations, whereas candidate organizations are limited to accepting $1,300 per person or group.
Attempts to reach officials at EMILY’S List were unsuccessful Tuesday afternoon. But the group’s independent expenditure arm that made the donation to the new committee said it works to combine “polling and research, sophisticated message testing, the latest innovations in data and technology as well as good old-fashioned voter contact to mobilize millions of women voters across the country,” according to its website.
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EMILY’S List announced its backing of Greuel, the city controller, in March, shortly after she and City Councilman Eric Garcetti took the top two spots in the primary on March 5. The political action committee claims to have a list of 2 million members and has helped scores of congressional and gubernatorial candidates expand their fundraising networks.
This year, it has turned its attention to mayoral races in some of the nation’s largest cities, backing New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Houston Mayor Annise Parker. Their long-term view is that those positions could be pipelines to the governor’s office and the White House.
Independent expenditure committees have spent significant sums in Los Angeles this year in the mayor’s race as well as contests for school board. In the mayoral contest, Greuel has been the biggest beneficiary, receiving $4.2 million from outside groups, compared to Garcetti’s nearly $1.2 million.
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