Oregon CD6 campaign finance reports reveal Carrick Flynn donors

Of the $817,254 in itemized particular person contributions to the marketing campaign of Carrick Flynn, candidate for Oregon’s Sixth Congressional District, solely 2.5% had been from Oregon-based donors, in keeping with lately revealed federal marketing campaign finance knowledge.

Most of his itemized contributions got here from California and New York, representing 43.1% and 12.6% of his complete, respectively.

In complete, 10 Oregonians had been listed as donors to his marketing campaign through the first quarter of 2022. Solely donors who contribute greater than $200 to a marketing campaign are required by the federal authorities to be recognized. Flynn additionally reported $12,931 in unitemized contributions from unidentified donors who gave lower than $200.

In keeping with Flynn’s marketing campaign, when together with these small-money donors, about 88 Oregonians contributed by way of March 31.

Rep. Andrea Salinas’ marketing campaign reported she has raised greater than $520,000 and that just about 80% was from Oregon donors. Dr. Kathleen More durable’s marketing campaign reported she has raised greater than $430,000, with 81% from donors inside Oregon. Neither marketing campaign famous how a lot might need been from small-money donors.

Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon has raised $47,300 in itemized particular person contributions, with greater than 90% coming from Oregon donors, in keeping with marketing campaign finance filings. She reported an extra $19,600 in unitemized contributions.

Former Multnomah County Fee Loretta Smith has raised $237,000 and reported about 74% of it got here from inside Oregon. She additionally loaned her marketing campaign $60,000.

Intel engineer Matt West loaned his marketing campaign $400,000, but additionally raised $317,106 from different people and has to this point personally contributed practically $50,000.

Cryptocurrency investor Cody Reynolds is basically self-funding his marketing campaign, together with a $2 million private mortgage. He additionally contributed greater than $500,000 to the marketing campaign. He has raised $4,725 from different people.

Opponents criticize Flynn

Flynn’s opponents famous their delight in having the vast majority of their help come from inside Oregon, whereas criticizing Flynn for his lack thereof.

They held an uncommon mid-campaign joint information convention earlier this week to criticize Home Majority PAC for selecting favorites inside the occasion by buying practically $1 million in tv promoting timeslots in help of Flynn. As of Friday, $488,000 has been reported in marketing campaign finance filings.

Home Majority PAC was launched in 2011 with the aim of successful again Democratic management of the U.S. Home and to counter conservative tremendous PAC spending. Prime Democratic operatives steer the political motion committee and rich left-leaning donors are identified to contribute to the fund.

Flynn’s opponents have additionally criticized different political motion committee spending on behalf of Flynn. Shield Our Future PAC, led by cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried and based mostly in Arizona, has spent practically $5 million to this point. Washington, D.C.-based Justice Unites Us PAC, newly fashioned in March, spent practically $850,000 on canvassing for Flynn’s marketing campaign.

“Carrick Flynn is a phantom candidate and nobody in Oregon is aware of him,” More durable mentioned in a press release. “He wants to inform us why a crypto-billionaire and out-of-state donors are pouring tens of millions into his marketing campaign.”

“As I’m out in the neighborhood, I’m listening to Oregon voters asking for whom Mr. Flynn is working — his out-of-state crypto billionaire backer and his household or Oregon households?” Salinas mentioned in a press release.

“If you happen to’re going to run for Congress in Oregon, it is best to most likely know greater than 12 Oregonians,” mentioned Robin Logsdon, marketing campaign supervisor for West’s marketing campaign. “Matt has a whole lot of Oregonian donors, however then not like Carrick, Matt’s working to combat for working folks, not the San Francisco and D.C. elite.”

“Whereas he could also be bankrolled by D.C. elites and crypto billionaires … who are actually swooping in to attempt to purchase the election, our marketing campaign is proud that 73.8% of our donors are from Oregon,” Smith’s marketing campaign mentioned in a press release.

‘Large open to accusations’

Oregon political analyst Jim Moore mentioned Flynn’s extraordinary out-of-state help and lack of in-state contributions is uncommon when in comparison with different congressional races within the state’s historical past. He mentioned that whereas it is smart Flynn would get nationwide marketing campaign contributions contemplating his background working with nationwide teams, it does expose him to political assaults.

“That leaves him extensive open to accusations of making an attempt to purchase the seat for his personal functions, not for the needs of the folks of the district,” Moore mentioned. “He can defend towards these costs, however it’s tougher for him to take action with such an enormous proportion of his help from elsewhere.”

Flynn’s marketing campaign supervisor Avital Balwit defended their fundraising.

“We’re pleased with the response from voters — and grassroots donors — from all walks of life right here within the sixth District,” Balwit mentioned. “We’re persevering with to construct momentum and help, and know that Carrick’s core platform of equitable financial restoration, pandemic preparedness and powerful, resilient communities is setting us aside in a crowded main.”

Friday was the deadline for congressional candidates nationwide to report marketing campaign contributions and bills from the start of the yr by way of March 31. The postings paint a clearer image of which candidates have the funds to energy their campaigns by way of to election day, and the place these funds are coming from.

Oregon’s main election day is Could 17.

The $830,351 Flynn raised — $817,254 of it itemized — was essentially the most of any candidate within the race. Solely Reynolds has additional cash contributions total because of the cash he has loaned to and spent on his personal marketing campaign.

Marketing campaign fundraisers with public occasion pages on Fb assist illuminate some particulars about Flynn’s out-of-state fundraising efforts.

Flynn wrote on the occasion web page of a March 19 fundraiser at a luxurious condominium high-rise in downtown Oakland, California, that he can be unable to journey on account of him and his spouse contracting COVID-19. As an alternative, he mentioned, he would attend remotely, the place he would discuss briefly and reply questions. He additionally supplied to have one-on-one calls with whomever was .

He added that “the remainder of the staff” can be in attendance and that they’d serve vegan Chinese language meals.

The occasion was hosted by a lawyer and coverage researcher who described Flynn as a mentor and is affiliated with the Centre for the Governance of AI, which Flynn co-founded. Twenty-nine folks responded to the occasion as or attending.

A second fundraiser was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 3. The outline of the occasion states Flynn can be in attendance, although it’s unclear if he went.

The host was a former colleague of Flynn’s when he labored at Georgetown College.

Forty-eight folks responded on Fb as both attending or . Any marketing campaign contributions that occurred at or after this occasion wouldn’t be included in marketing campaign finance knowledge launched Friday.

Reporter Connor Radnovich covers the Oregon Legislature and state authorities. Contact him at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-508-6131, or comply with him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich.