HARRISBURG — The total cost of the governor’s race in Pennsylvania topped $100 million in this last election cycle, a staggering amount that set a new spending record in the race to snag the state’s highest office.The steep spending puts on full display Pennsylvania’s distinction as having some of the most lax campaign finance laws in the country — ones that place no limits on how much money candidates can accept from deep-pocketed donors.
In all, Shapiro and the nine Republicans spent $100.2 million in both the primary and general election between the start of last year and the end of November, according to the latest campaign finance reports. That iswhat it costs to run Pennsylvania’s Department of State, which oversees elections, for an entire year.
In 2014, the four Democrats and incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, who was trying for a second four-year term, spent a combined $82.8 million. Shapiro, for instance, received $1 million each from Karla Jurvetson, a philanthropist and a major Democratic contributor from Silicon Valley, and Bill Harris Jr., the one-time head of PayPal. He received another $2 million from physician Jennifer Duda of California’s Menlo Park and got $120,000 from relatives of Democratic megadonor George Soros.
Corporate donations are prohibited, but there is a loophole: top-level executives in a corporation can and do launch their own political action committees. Those PACs can then donate unlimited amounts to candidates. So can their lobbyists.
Money well spent by our governor trying to safe our democracy and our constitution.
It takes a lot to buy a election
WHAT WERE WE ALL TAKING ABOUT BUYING ELECTIONS? JUST ASKING NOT SAYING THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF WE ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE CANDIDATE WON CAUSE THEY SPENT MORE MONEY THEN THE OTHER?
Money bags JoshShapiroPA will not be governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for very long. Once the truth comes out Mr. Shapiro will have a lot to answer for. dougmastriano will be the governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Money well spent to keep our democracy, our constitution rights that are in danger by the deplorables for trump.
outcome was known that is exactly why he never debated
How much was provided by FTX and George Soros? Follow the money trail
How much of it was spent on negative ads? Did not see any message of what he plans to improve for the state like crime in Philly & jobs for our biggest injury fossil fuel.
WHAT A DEAD BEAT! HE LET THE BIG BAD WOLF WALK ALL OVER PENNSYLVANIANS....AND NEVER SAID A WORD. AND NOW HE'S GOVERNOR? WHAT A JOKE!!!!!
Why did he spend so much? Does he want the office to steal more money? Maybe there is gold under that office building?
And he’ll raise everyone’s taxes congrats