Why It Matters

Building the Future, a super PAC registered in late August, has reported about $1.3 million in spending to support incumbent Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) in South Carolina's Nov. 3 U.S. Senate election. ​

What It Spent

Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) was appointed to the Senate in July following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), becoming the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Graham won the Aug. 25 Republican runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), receiving approximately 52.5% of the vote. She faces Democrat Annie Andrews in the Nov. 3 general election.

Building the Future has spent entirely on supporting Graham in the general election. The two reported expenditures financed media placement, production, and text messaging, rather than direct contributions to her campaign. The larger transaction, approximately $889,000 for media placement, accounted for roughly 69% of the committee's reported independent expenditures. The remaining approximately $408,000 financed text messaging, media placement, and production.

The Ad Buy

Building the Future reported two independent expenditures dated Oct. 15, both supporting Graham and both naming Prusik Partners LLC as the vendor. The larger expenditure totaled $888,913.89 for media placement. A second expenditure of approximately $407,500 covered text messaging, media placement, and media production. Together, the two expenditures totaled about $1.296 million.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

Building the Future's approximately $1.3 million in reported spending supporting Graham is smaller than the amounts attributed to several other outside groups active in South Carolina's Senate election. According to the supplied Oct. 20 figures, Security Is Strength PAC has reported approximately $13.2 million in total spending in the contest, including $3.3 million supporting Graham and $3 million opposing Andrews.

Palmetto Action has reportedly spent approximately $7.5 million, including $711,000 supporting Graham and $3.5 million opposing Republican Mark Lynch during the primary. SLF PAC has reportedly spent approximately $3.8 million opposing Andrews. By comparison, Building the Future reported approximately $1.3 million supporting Graham and no spending opposing another candidate.

You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.

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