52-598: LGBTQ+ Victory Fund (formerly the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Fund ), commonly shortened to Victory Fund , is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of out LGBTQ+ public officials in the United States . Victory Fund is the largest LGBTQ+ political action committee in the United States and one of the nation's largest non-connected PACs. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
104-777: A Treasurer, a Secretary, and a National Finance Chair, who are all elected by vote of members of the Democratic National Committee itself. According to its charter, the committee is further composed of: All DNC members are superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, and their role can affect the outcome over a close primary race only if no candidate receives a majority of pledged delegates. These delegates, officially described as "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates," fall into three categories based on other positions they hold: The DNC establishes rules for
156-563: A board of directors, composed of top leaders of government, politics, and business. Additionally, the Victory Campaign Board is elected to recruit and endorse candidates, as well as provide financial resources. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund was founded in 1991 by Vic Basile and William Waybourn, with Waybourn becoming its first executive director. It provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly gay , lesbian , bisexual and transgender candidates and officials across
208-605: A gay Republican who ran for the House of Representatives in California. DeMaio also claims that the Victory Fund gave campaign documents of his, given as part of the Victory Fund's endorsement process, to his opponent. Additionally, Victory Fund has rejected the prospect of endorsing Caitlyn Jenner , a transgender woman running in the California gubernatorial race, citing her positions on transgender minors and athletes. In
260-932: A number of champagne brunches and receptions around the United States, in cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, and San Diego. The events bring together local LGBTQ+ elected officials and supporters and serve as fundraising for the organization. Other events include various pride receptions celebrating LGBTQ+ Capitol Hill staffers and LGBTQ+ political appointees. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute hosts events of its own as well as stewards several fellowship and internship programs. Events include LGBTQ+ Leadership Summits, which are day-long intensive trainings for LGBTQ+ leaders, and Candidate and Campaign Trainings, which are weekend-long crash courses on how to run for office. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute also hosts international trainings, and has received funding from USAID . The Victory Congressional Internship program brings LGBTQ+ college students to Washington, D.C. for an intensive leadership program, and includes
312-522: A realistic plan to win, demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights via the legislative or regulatory process, and demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to safeguard privacy and reproductive freedom. These requirements are less stringent for judicial endorsements. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund employs a tiered system of endorsements. The categories are: "Game Changer," designating candidates who can become historic firsts and directly impact LGBTQ+ representation in
364-611: A semester-long internship with an LGBTQ-friendly member of Congress. Participants also attend the International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference. The David Bohnett Victory Congressional Fellowship brings an emerging LGBTQ+ leader to Washington, D.C. for a year-long intensive fellowship that supports the executive director of the LGBTQ+ Congressional Equality Caucus. It also includes a generous stipend and access to
416-743: A statement about possible FBI assistance in investigating the hacking and leaks, saying that "the DNC was never contacted by the FBI or any other agency concerned about these intrusions." During a Senate hearing in January 2017, James Comey testified that the FBI requested access to the DNC's servers, but its request was denied. He also testified that old versions of the Republican National Committee 's servers were breached, but then-current databases were unaffected. The DNC subsequently filed
468-431: A third classification, independent expenditure-only committees, which are colloquially known as "super PACs". Most of the 4,600 active, registered PACs, named "connected PACs", sometimes also called "corporate PACs", are established by businesses, non-profits, labor unions, trade groups, or health organizations. These PACs receive and raise money from a "restricted class", generally consisting of managers and shareholders in
520-543: A three-week intensive Executive Education program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Political Appointments Program works with LGBTQ+ leaders and pro-equality presidential administrations to ensure qualified LGBTQ+ representation in all agencies and levels. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has attracted controversy from LGBT Republican politicians, such as Richard Grenell ,
572-838: A way dominant parties can capture seats from other parties. A leadership PAC sponsored by an elected official cannot use funds to support that official's own campaign. However, it may fund travel, administrative expenses, consultants, polling, and other non-campaign expenses. In the 2018 election cycle, leadership PACs donated more than $ 67 million to federal candidates. Super PACs, officially known as "independent expenditure-only political action committees," are unlike traditional PACs in that they may raise unlimited amounts from individuals, corporations, unions, and other groups to spend on, for example, ads overtly advocating for or against political candidates. However, they are not allowed to either coordinate with or contribute directly to candidate campaigns or political parties. Super PACs are subject to
SECTION 10
#1732783636724624-525: A year. An Executive Committee of roughly 65 members determined by the DNC is responsible for the affairs of the party and meets at least quarterly. In addition, a National Advisory Board exists for purposes of fundraising and advising the executive. The present chair is Elizabeth Frawley Bagley , U.S. Ambassador to Brazil . In 2021, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party Jaime Harrison
676-734: Is responsible for articulating and promoting the Democratic platform and coordinating party organizational activity. In particular, it organizes and calls for the Democratic National Convention held every four years to nominate candidates for President and Vice President of the United States , and is subsequently responsible for the Presidential campaign . The DNC is more focused on campaign and organizational strategy than public policy . According to Boris Heersink, "political scientists have traditionally described
728-455: The 2018 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 29,349,895 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In the 2020 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 28,276,448 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In the 2022 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 28,051,395 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In
780-660: The 2022 United States House of Representatives election in New York's third congressional district , LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Human Rights Campaign endorsed Democrat Robert Zimmerman over Republican nominee George Santos , in the first congressional race where both candidates were openly gay. Political action committee In the United States, a political action committee ( PAC ) is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives , or legislation . The legal term PAC
832-692: The 2024 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 25,995,526 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: Democratic National Committee The Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) is the principal executive leadership board of the United States Democratic Party . According to the party charter, it has "general responsibility for the affairs of the Democratic Party between National Conventions ", and particularly coordinates strategy to support Democratic Party candidates throughout
884-766: The Federal Election Campaign Act as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Act). At the state level, an organization becomes a PAC according to the state's election laws . Contributions to PACs from corporate or labor union treasuries are illegal, though these entities may sponsor a PAC and provide financial support for its administration and fundraising. Union-affiliated PACs may solicit contributions only from union members. Independent PACs may solicit contributions from
936-446: The caucuses and primaries which choose delegates to the Democratic National Convention , but the caucuses and primaries themselves are most often run not by the DNC but instead by each individual state. Primary elections, in particular, are conducted by state governments according to their own laws. Political parties can choose whether to participate and accept the results of a state's primary election. The DNC convenes at least once
988-753: The Committee unequally favored Hillary Clinton and acted in support of her nomination while opposing the candidacy of her primary challenger Bernie Sanders . Donna Brazile corroborated these allegations in an excerpt of her book published by Politico in November 2017. The leaked emails spanned sixteen months, terminating in May 2016. The WikiLeaks releases led to the resignations of Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Communications Director Luis Miranda, Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall and Chief Executive Amy Dacey. After she resigned, Wasserman Schultz put out
1040-570: The D.C. Chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans wrote an op-ed for the Washington Blade criticizing the then-Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's pro-choice litmus test as harmful to its goal of electing LGBT candidates. The Victory Fund, however, has said that its vision of the "Right to Privacy" can be as conservative as supporting abortion only in cases of rape and incest. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund refused to endorse Carl DeMaio ,
1092-530: The Democratic Party after the contentious 2016 Democratic presidential primaries , which saw conflicts between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders . Perez was seen as being more in line with the Clinton wing, while Ellison was more in line with the Sanders wing. The role's revival in 2017 has been described by critics as largely titular and ceremonial. On November 8, 2018, Ellison resigned from
SECTION 20
#17327836367241144-678: The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) created rules for disclosure, which made it so all donations received by PACs must go through a central committee maintained by said PAC. Furthermore, it required PACs to file regular reports with the Federal Election Commission(FEC) disclosing anyone who has donated at least $ 200. The Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional limits imposed on PACs by the legislature under First Amendment grounds in many cases, starting with Buckley v. Valeo . Throughout
1196-536: The International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference. The Victory Empowerment Fellowship was implemented by Aisha Moodie-Mills and helps emerging LGBTQ+ leaders of color and transgender leaders expand their campaign skills and policy-making power through a year-long membership and access to a Candidate Campaign Training and the International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference. The Bohnett Leaders Fellowship brings senior-level executives working with state and local governments, including government officials and elected officeholders, to
1248-680: The Presidential Appointments Project, whose goal was getting openly gay people appointed to all levels of the Clinton administration (and subsequently, the Bush and Obama administrations). In 1997, activist Brian Bond was hired as executive director of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund from his position as the director of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council at the Democratic National Committee from to rebuild
1300-481: The United States, helping them win elections at local, state and federal levels. Victory has helped elect several hundred out LGBTQ+ candidates to Congress, state legislatures, school boards and city councils. In addition, it works to help openly gay and lesbian officeholders develop professionally through its collaboration with the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials and co-sponsorship of
1352-524: The Victory Fund endorsed was Sherry Harris , who was elected to the City Council in Seattle, Washington, in 1991, making her the first openly lesbian African-American elected official. In 1995, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund was a principal organizer of a meeting between representatives of the Clinton administration and several dozen leaders of gay and lesbian organizations. This meeting followed on the heels of
1404-491: The Victory Fund, "putting her on a path to become" Vermont's first Congresswoman. After the primaries, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund made 16 endorsements in congressional elections to expand LGBTQ+ representation in Congress by eight seats or approximately six million people. On March 3, 2023, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund announced the addition of the "plus" in their name to be formally known as LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute,
1456-912: The annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference. The group's founders, Dallas gay-rights activist William Waybourn and Human Rights Campaign Fund Executive Director Vic Basile, were inspired by the use of EMILY's List funds to power the 1990 election of former Governor of Texas Ann Richards . Waybourn and Basile planned an organization that would employ EMILY's List methodology—early money given sufficiently transforms "qualified candidates from 'fringe' status to 'front-runners'"—to propel gay and lesbian candidates to elected office. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses dozens of out LGBTQ+ candidates each year, increasing exposure to potential donors and providing both strategic and material support. Past endorsees include Tammy Baldwin , Barney Frank , Sean Patrick Maloney , David Cicilline , Lupe Valdez , Victoria Kolakowski , Patricia Todd and Virginia Linder . The first candidate
1508-425: The campaign, Parker referred to Victory Fund as her "secret weapon" and thanked the organization for its help. Chuck Wolfe stepped down as president of the organization at the end of 2014. In 2015, Aisha Moodie-Mills became the new president and CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, which made her the first woman, first person of color and first lesbian to become the head of the organization. In 2017, Moodie-Mills' departure
1560-529: The case of a corporation or members in the case of a non-profit organization, labor union or other interest group. As of January 2009, there were 1,598 registered corporate PACs, 272 related to labor unions and 995 to trade organizations. Groups with an ideological mission, single-issue groups, and members of Congress and other political leaders may form "non-connected PACs". These organizations may accept funds from any individual, connected PAC, or organization. As of January 2009, there were 1,594 non-connected PACs,
1612-414: The country for local, state, and national office, as well as works to establish a "party brand" and to formulate the party platform . While it provides support for party candidates, it does not have direct authority over elected officials. The DNC was established on May 26, 1848, at that year's Democratic National Convention . The DNC's main counterpart is the Republican National Committee . The DNC
LGBTQ Victory Fund - Misplaced Pages Continue
1664-665: The election of Annise Parker as mayor of Houston. In electing an out lesbian as its chief executive, Houston became the largest city in the country to have elected an out gay person as mayor. Local gay groups, particularly the Houston GLBT Political Caucus , had nurtured Parker's political career and were openly supporting her race. Victory Fund became a huge player in the race by providing a much-needed source of cash for Parker's grassroots efforts and helping her stay financially competitive with her two chief rivals, both of whose campaigns were lavishly funded. After
1716-620: The fastest-growing category. Elected officials and political parties cannot give more than the federal limit directly to candidates. However, they can set up a leadership PAC that makes independent expenditures . Provided the expenditure is not coordinated with the other candidate, this type of spending is not limited. Under the FEC (Federal Election Commission) rules, leadership PACs are non-connected PACs, and can accept donations from individuals and other PACs. Since current officeholders have an easier time attracting contributions, Leadership PACs are
1768-436: The first openly gay person in the United States to hold a cabinet-level position who leveled criticism at their alleged bias against LGBT Republicans. The LGBTQ Victory fund donated over 100,000 dollars to candidates in the 2020 election cycle, and over $ 90,000 in the 2018 election cycle, with none of that money going to Republican candidates. The organization's abortion stance has also come under scrutiny. Robert Turner, head of
1820-520: The following non-voting officers execute administrative tasks within the DNC: This is an inactive position. The Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee was re-established by Tom Perez in February 2017 after his win in the 2017 DNC Chair race . After a close victory over Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison , Perez appointed Ellison as Deputy Chair in an attempt to lessen the divide in
1872-585: The general public and must pay their own costs from those funds. Federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute to candidates as follows: In its 2010 case Citizens United v. FEC , the Supreme Court of the United States overturned sections of the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Act) that had prohibited corporate and union political independent expenditures in political campaigns. Citizens United declared it
1924-496: The highest levels of government. "Spotlight," designating candidates who can make history or increase LGBTQ+ representation in low-equality states or in states with few or no LGBTQ+ lawmakers. Non-designated candidates are candidates who will increase the number of LGBTQ+ voices in government. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute are led by a president-CEO and a team of staff based in Washington, D.C. The Fund also has
1976-528: The national party organization, Franklin Roosevelt proposed in 1925 that the DNC should open a permanent headquarters in order to function "every day in every year" and exist on a "business-like financial basis." In 1929, John Raskob led the creation of the first permanent national headquarters for the DNC in Washington, DC. In the 1970s, the DNC had its head office, located in the Watergate complex at
2028-439: The nearly-bankrupt organization. He is credited by Tammy Baldwin with helping grow the visibility and size of the organization. He stepped down in 2003. Former LGBTQ+ Victory Fund board member Chuck Wolfe was named executive director in 2003. Under his leadership, the organization's budgets grew exponentially. In 2008, 80 of the group's 111 endorsed candidates won their elections. In 2009, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund donated $ 40000 to
2080-484: The nominee, but additional funds are spent on general, party-building activities. There are state committees in every state, as well as local committees in most cities, wards, and towns (and, in most states, counties). When the president is a Democrat, the party generally works closely with the president and the White House largely controls the Committee. The DNC is headed by a Chairperson, five Vice Chairpersons,
2132-630: The non-profit sibling organization of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Its most prominent is the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference hosted annually between November and December, bringing LGBTQ+ elected officials from around the world for a weekend of panels, speakers, and receptions. This conference grew out of a joint conference in 2004 with the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials (INLGO). LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and NLGO merged in 2005. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund also hosts
LGBTQ Victory Fund - Misplaced Pages Continue
2184-435: The parties’ national committees as inconsequential but impartial service providers." In presidential elections, it supervises the national convention and, both independently and in coordination with the presidential candidate, raises funds, commissions polls, and coordinates campaign strategy. Following the selection of a party nominee, the public funding laws permit the national party to coordinate certain expenditures with
2236-457: The past 30 years, campaign donations from PACs have been increasingly growing, with $ 333 million being raised in 1990 to $ 482 million in 2022. Even with the major growth, PAC contributions only made up 23% of the money raised by House candidates and only 10% for senate candidates, despite media coverage which tends to exaggerate contributions. Federal law formally allows for two types of PACs: connected and non-connected. Judicial decisions added
2288-488: The position due to his win in the Minnesota Attorney General election . The position remains unoccupied. The DNC has existed since 1848. During the 1848 Democratic National Convention , a resolution was passed creating the Democratic National Committee, composed of thirty members, one person per state, chosen by the states' delegations, and chaired by Benjamin F. Hallett . In order to strengthen
2340-529: The same organizational, reporting, and public disclosure requirements of traditional PACs. A hybrid PAC (sometimes called a Carey Committee) is similar to a super PAC, but can give limited amounts of money directly to campaigns and committees, while still making independent expenditures in unlimited amounts. OpenSecrets maintains a list of the largest PACs by election cycle on its website OpenSecrets.org. Their list can be filtered by receipts or different types of expenses, political party, and type of PAC. In
2392-798: The time, burglarized by entities working for Richard Nixon 's administration during the Watergate scandal . Chinagate was an alleged effort by the People's Republic of China to influence domestic American politics prior to and during the Clinton administration . In 2002, the Federal Election Commission fined the Democratic National Committee $ 115,000 for its part in fundraising violations in 1996 . Cyber attacks and hacks were claimed by or attributed to various individual and groups such as: On July 22, 2016, WikiLeaks released approximately 20,000 DNC emails. Critics claimed that
2444-527: Was announced and the new president and CEO was named, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker. In 2018, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute was renamed the LGBTQ Victory Fund and Institute to accurately reflect the environment in which it works. In 2019, the Victory Fund announced it was endorsing Pete Buttigieg for president, which was its first presidential endorsement. In 2022, Becca Balint won her primary in part with $ 1 million from
2496-448: Was created in pursuit of campaign finance reform in the United States . Democracies of other countries use different terms for the units of campaign spending or spending on political competition (see political finance ). At the U.S. federal level, an organization becomes a PAC when it receives or spends more than $ 1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election, and registers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), according to
2548-527: Was established after the U.S. Congress prohibited unions from giving direct contributions to political candidates. This restriction was initially imposed in 1907 on corporations through the Tillman Act . The Smith–Connally Act extended its coverage to labor unions in 1943. A series of campaign reform laws enacted during the 1970s facilitated the growth of PACs after these laws allowed corporations, trade associations, and labor unions to form PACs. In 1971
2600-467: Was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan political action committee. It provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer candidates and officials across the United States running for all levels of government. Its partner organization, Victory Institute, offers programs and training to elected officials. To be considered for endorsement, candidates must identify as LGBTQ+, demonstrate community support and
2652-584: Was selected by President Joe Biden to chair the Democratic National Committee, and his nomination was approved by its members. A new chair will be elected in the 2025 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election Governor of Michigan U.S. senator from Illinois President of the Association of State Democratic Committees, Chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Furthermore,
SECTION 50
#17327836367242704-588: Was unconstitutional to prohibit corporations and unions from spending from their general treasuries to promote candidates or from contributing to PACs. It left intact these laws' prohibitions on corporations or unions contributing directly to a candidate or candidate committee. The political action committee emerged from the labor movement of 1943. The first PAC was the CIO-PAC , formed in July 1943 under CIO president Philip Murray and headed by Sidney Hillman . It
#723276