Following a delay, Arizona’s “Dark Money” Donor Details Are Made Public

Voters in Arizona now have greater transparency thanks to new legislation requiring large-scale campaigns to disclose their donors. What you should know is as follows:

Key Points:

• Proposition 211’s Impact: Voters’ approval of Proposition 211 now requires disclosure of donors contributing $5,000 or more to campaigns exceeding $50,000 in spending.
• Website Challenges: Secretary of State Adrian Fontes cites tech staff turnover and outdated systems for delays in posting disclosures.
• Current Disclosures: Eight committees have published reports on the “See the Money” website, detailing contributions for legislative and statewide campaigns.
• Incomplete Details: Many reports lack specifics on major donors, indicating thresholds for disclosure haven’t been met in some cases.
• Notable Contributions: The Open Society Action Fund disclosed a $500,000 donation to the Arizona for Abortion Access campaign, credited to billionaire George Soros’ foundation.
• Upcoming Reports: Expectations for additional disclosures as campaign activities intensify.

Upcoming Enhancements:

In the upcoming weeks, Fontes’ administration promised upgrades to improve openness with the goal of streamlining access to campaign funding data.

Follow “The BorderLine” for more information on Arizona’s changing campaign finance regulations and Proposition 211 transparency initiatives.