Why It Matters

Buckeye Freedom PAC, a newly registered super PAC, is directing its spending toward supporting Libertarian William Redpath and opposing Republican Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in the closely contested Ohio U.S. Senate special election. ​

The committee registered on Oct. 5 and began reporting spending two weeks later. Its strategy differs from that of the major Republican- and Democratic-aligned groups in the race: Rather than directly supporting either major-party nominee, it is promoting a third-party candidate while criticizing the Republican incumbent.

The group's website provides little information about its political priorities beyond identifying the committee as responsible for the site's content and stating that no candidate or candidate's committee authorizes it. CNN reported on Oct. 22 that the committee's trying to promote Redpath and target Husted.

What It Spent

The race pits Husted against Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown in a toss-up contest; the general election is Nov. 3. The committee reported every dollar it spent on that single contest. The committee spent $1.68 million supporting William Redpath and $1.67 million opposing Jon Husted. The committee's filings show no spending for or against Brown.

The committee's outside spending total runs through Oct. 28. Receipts, disbursements, and cash on hand as of Oct. 14 each show zero in the financial summary. The gap between the financial summary date and the outside spending total means the spending figures capture activity reported after Oct. 14, but the balance sheet does not yet reflect it.

The Ad Buy

Buckeye Freedom PAC's spending has centered on media placement and production, direct mail, text messaging, and photography. It spent $2.4 million on media placement and production through RFO Marketing Partners LLC, accounting for about 72% of its total reported spending.

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The committee's reported transactions include:

  • Oct. 17: Two $600,000 expenditures through RFO Marketing Partners for media placement and production, one supporting Redpath and one opposing Husted.
  • Oct. 20: $210,000 for direct mail opposing Husted and $219,014 for photography supporting Redpath, including a separate $9,014 transaction.
  • Oct. 21: Two additional $600,000 expenditures through RFO Marketing Partners, again divided between supporting Redpath and opposing Husted.
  • Oct. 22: $207,500 for direct mail supporting Redpath and another $207,500 opposing Husted, along with $25,000 for text messaging in each direction.
  • Oct. 23: Two additional $25,000 text messaging expenditures, one supporting Redpath and one opposing Husted.

Evergreen Skies Consulting LLC handled direct mail and photography services, while Liberty Buying Partners LLC handled text messaging. The expenditures show parallel advertising efforts that promoted Redpath and criticized Husted.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

Buckeye Freedom PAC's spending is considerably smaller than that of several national committees active in Ohio's Senate race.

Senate Leadership Fund PAC has spent approximately $82.7 million, including $80.3 million opposing Brown and $2.3 million supporting Husted. WINSENATE has spent about $64.1 million, nearly all of it opposing Husted. Defend American Jobs has spent approximately $55.8 million, including $36.1 million supporting Husted and $19.7 million opposing Brown.

The larger committees have concentrated their spending on the two major-party nominees, while Buckeye Freedom PAC has directed its spending toward supporting Redpath and opposing Husted.

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

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