CULAC Backing 5 Candidates This Week; One Receiving $500K Plus

WASHINGTON–The Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC), which is CUNA’s PAC, said it is launching its first round of independent expenditures (IEs) for the 2018 midterm election cycle this week, including one expenditure of more than a half-million dollars.

“Our strategic approach involves supporting credit union champions, regardless of their political affiliation, who understand issues affecting the industry and support policies that help credit unions serve their members,” said Trey Hawkins, CUNA deputy chief advocacy officer for political action, in a statement.

CUNA said it is supporting five candidates through IEs directed at the general public but conducted independently of the candidate, his campaign, or the parties. Supported candidates and their districts include:    

• In the Indiana Senate, CULAC is spending $525,000 on digital advertising and direct mail supporting Sen. Joe Donnelly 
• In the Montana Senate, CULAC is spending $250,000 on an IE in support of Sen. Jon Tester (D) comprised of direct mail, digital ads on Pandora, and radio ads. 
• In Arizona’s 1^st Congressional District, CULAC is spending just over $76,000 on direct mail IEs in support of Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D).
• In Ohio’s 1^st Congressional District, CULAC is spending $200,000 on an IE in support of Rep. Steve Chabot (R), comprised of television, radio and digital ads. 
• In Texas 32^nd Congressional District, CULAC is spending $200,000 on an IE in support of Rep. Pete Sessions (R), including ads on television, radio, digital, and a website, www.CreditUnionsforSessions.com. 

“Our advertising is entirely positive in nature, which helps us cut through the clutter of negative ads and ultimately helpful to the candidates we are trying to help,” Hawkins added.  

Bipartisan Communications

CUNA said it has also begun releasing partisan communications in the West Virginia Senate race supporting Sen. Joe Manchin, in partnership with the West Virginia Credit Union League, and in North Carolina’s 13^th District supporting Rep. Ted Budd, in partnership with the Carolinas Credit Union League. This round of multichannel campaigns are part of a launch earlier this month in six House races and the Missouri Senate race, CUNA said.

Earlier this fall, CUNA launched Credit Unions Vote, a campaign focused on getting credit union members to vote in the November elections.