The Influence of Dark Money in Ohio Politics: A Closer Look at FirstEnergy’s Tactics and the Call for Reform
The recent revelations from an internal document at FirstEnergy have shed light on the company’s use of dark money to influence Ohio’s elected officials. The document, obtained by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, shows that the company’s preferred method of political giving is through section 501(c) groups, which are not required to disclose their donors.
The document, part of a cache of records related to the House Bill 6 scandal, details how FirstEnergy used dark-money groups to funnel millions of dollars to politicians, including Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, and Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman. The scandal has reignited calls for campaign finance reform in the state, but bipartisan efforts have failed to gain traction.
The use of dark money in politics is not unique to Ohio. Since the Citizens United case in 2010, dark money contributions have skyrocketed, with millions of dollars flowing to federal candidates in each election cycle. Contributors enjoy anonymity, which helps them avoid public backlash for supporting controversial candidates.
Despite the surge in dark money spending, efforts to reform campaign finance laws have stalled in Ohio. A bipartisan bill sponsored by former state senator Jon Husted in response to Citizens United failed to pass the House. Subsequent attempts at reform have also been unsuccessful, with Democrats now leading the charge for change.
The recent revelation that a conservative out-of-state group spent $2 million attacking House Republicans in Ohio has prompted House Speaker Jason Stephens to explore changes to state laws requiring dark money groups to disclose their donors. While legal barriers exist due to the Citizens United ruling, states like Arizona and Montana have implemented tougher disclosure laws.
The ongoing debate over dark money in Ohio politics highlights the need for transparency and accountability in campaign finance. With dark money playing an increasingly prominent role in elections, the pressure is mounting on state lawmakers to take action and restore public trust in the political process.