A local district attorney's race in Maine wasn't generating much attention until a political action committee linked to a deep-pocketed liberal donor became interested.
George Soros, the billionaire investor, philanthropist and conspiracy theorist, dropped $300,000 on behalf of the challenger, dwarfing the $70,000 raised by both candidates until then.
It shows how national groups are trying to influence district attorney's contests across the country. Some see the office as being on the front lines of the movement for criminal justice reforms, and the spending shows that.
Left-leaning groups have stepped in to fund candidates who support those reforms, while conservatives are pushing back.
The president of the Justice & Public Safety PAC, which supports progressive district attorney candidates, said political money is necessary to bring change to an office that is overwhelmingly white and male.
Tymas, who leads political action committees funding races in Maine and several other states, said it took real money to meet this moment.
Tymas' political action committee has been sending out mailers in the run up to Tuesday's primary, attacking incumbent Jonathan Sahrbeck, a democrat. The fliers were in favor of the challenger.
The amount of money spent in the county that includes Maine's most populous city, Portland, is outrageous.
He said that people in Cumberland County should be appalled by the attempt to buy the race.
It's not unique to Maine.
Money poured into this week's recall election that resulted in the ousting of the San Francisco District Attorney. Critics said that he had failed to prosecute repeat offenders.
Over the past five years, more than 50 progressives have been supported by Real Justice, a political action committee that has given money to them from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Opponents raised at least $7 million with the majority of that coming from an organization fueled by large donations from individuals.
On a platform of reducing incarceration, Boudin implemented policies against cash bail and not trying juvenile offenders as adults. While many crime numbers are lower since he took office less than three years ago, the city has been shaken by a series of attacks against Asian-Americans.
The billionaire has spent a lot of money in other states.
In Arkansas, $321,000 from Soros flowed through a political action committee in a failed attempt to help a candidate in a prosecutor's race in the state's capital city. The race to fill an open seat was cut in half because of special interest money.
Direct-mail ads were paid for by outside money. Jones was accused of being anti-victim by using portions of a quote from his argument before the jury when he was prosecuting the man. The man was found guilty in the case.
Jones's super PAC sent a mailer that criticized her work as a public defender and called her a soft on crime person.
At least two other prosecutor races have been funded by groups. In Northern California'sContra Costa County, the California Justice & Public Safety PAC spent at least $950,000 to help District Attorney Diana Benton fight off her opponent in the Democratic primary. A group funded mostly by police organizations paid for TV ads to promote and criticize Benton, who was supported by hundreds of thousands of dollars in independent expenditures.
In Iowa's Polk County, the Justice & Public Safety PAC spent at least $136,000 on behalf of Kim Graham as she defeated two other Democrats in this week's primary. The seat has been closed for more than three decades.
Billions of dollars have been donated to support liberal and anti-authoritarian causes by billionaire philanthropist George Soros. Right-wing groups have spread conspiracy theories about the Hungarian-American.
He said in a statement that he was looking to make a long-term investment in races nationwide.
Local district attorneys are often at the center of debates over law enforcement reforms and the criminal justice system, which incarcerates poor people and people of color at higher rates.
Money and incumbency are important factors in local district attorney's races in 45 states according to a study released this month.
When a challenger raises more money than the incumbent, 42% of them win the election. The challengers won 20% of the time. Independent expenditures on a candidate's behalf weren't the focus of the study.
Carisssa Hessick is the director of the prosecutors and politics project.
In Maine's primary election, there is a lot at stake.
The race for district attorney will be decided on Tuesday because there are no other candidates.
Outside donations show the importance of the job and recognize that she is the only lifelong Democrat in the race, according to an assistant district attorney.
She wants to help those struggling with substance use disorder and address under reported crimes such as sexual assault. She promised to take seriously questions of racial disparity.
In the areas of implicit bias, racism, racial equity and inclusion, he has worked on practical reforms.
An attack ad said he won the previous race for district attorney as an independent.
If $300,000 was spent on addressing homelessness, substance use disorder and mental health issues, the community would be better off.
She can't accept responsibility for spending that she doesn't have control over.
She stated that she was responsible for her campaign. The man is responsible for his.
That's right.
DeMillo and Mulvihill were from Arkansas and New Jersey, respectively.
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