Report: Anonymous donors spent $132.5 million in elections

Tax-exempt nonprofit groups spent $132.5 million in the last election cycle, according to a report released Friday from New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. The report also notes that outside groups — including those who disclosed donors — spent $290 million. The report details how the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. FEC, changed the landscape for campaign spending.

The report found that 501(c) groups that do not disclose donors ran a larger percentage of negative ads than 527 groups that do disclose donors — 75 percent of 501(c) ads were negative, whereas 55 percent of 527 ads were negative.

The Colorado U.S. Senate race, in which Sen. Michael Bennet (D) narrowly defeated Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck (R), had the most outside spending, anonymous spending and spending from sources that accepted uncapped donations — all together totaling over $34 million.

Read the full report here. (PDF)