Why It Matters

Fresh Start SC PAC has reported nearly $2.5 million in spending on health care ads and criticism of the Republican candidate in the South Carolina U.S. Senate special election, spending nearly twice as much to oppose Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) as to support Democratic challenger Annie Andrews. Semafor reported Sept. 17 that the group launched a $2.5 million advertising campaign that emphasized health care and criticized Graham's positions. ​

The committee is classified as a super PAC, or independent expenditure-only committee, which can raise and spend unlimited sums but cannot coordinate its independent expenditures with candidates' campaigns. Its reported outside spending totaled $2,497,288.67 as of Oct. 14. Periodic financial reports through June 30 show $80,000 in receipts and cash on hand, with no disbursements reported for that period.

The Strategy

The committee has concentrated its spending on a single race, reporting approximately $1.63 million opposing Graham and $871,000 supporting Andrews. Opposition spending accounts for about 65% of its total independent expenditures, nearly 1.9 times its spending supporting Andrews.

Waterfront Strategies spent about $1.32 million on television advertising opposing Graham and $300,000 on digital advertising opposing her, along with about $564,000 on television advertising and $300,000 on digital advertising supporting Andrews.

The Nov. 3 election is rated Likely Republican. The PAC's messaging has emphasized health care, with Semafor reporting that its initial advertisement criticized Graham over policies the group said would make health care less accessible.

Who Funds It

The committee's reported receipts through June 30 total $80,000. The submitted donor records identify Susan P. Johnson as contributing $55,000 across two transactions and Andrew Goffe as contributing $25,000. Those records identified no organizational contributors or contributions from other PACs.

The available news reporting does not independently identify the committee's leadership or financial backers. Its nearly $2.5 million in subsequent independent expenditures substantially exceeds the receipts disclosed through June 30, making more recent financial reports important for identifying the sources of its advertising funds.

The Ad Buy

The PAC's four largest reported advertising expenditures were listed through Waterfront Strategies on Oct. 7-8: approximately $1.32 million for television ads opposing Graham, $564,000 for television ads supporting Andrews and two $300,000 digital buys, one supporting Andrews and the other opposing Graham. MVAR Media LLC was listed for television and digital advertising production on Oct. 9.

Axios reported Oct. 8 that Fresh Start SC PAC took over an advertising reservation in the Greenville, South Carolina, market to attack Graham. Broadcast reservations included WLOS in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market at $215,550 for Oct. 7-12 and $166,450 for Oct. 13-19, reduced from $366,450. WBTV in Charlotte carried $150,000 for Oct. 13-19, reduced from $188,750.

WSOC-TV in Charlotte carried $108,700 for Oct. 13-19 and $92,150 for Oct. 6-12, down from $94,550. WYFF in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market carried $100,475 for Oct. 13-19.

On Oct. 13 and 14, the PAC filed six changes to existing television advertising reservations in the Charlotte and Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson markets, including both increases and reductions. The changes did not represent six additional advertising purchases.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

In South Carolina's Senate race, Security Is Strength PAC reported approximately $3.84 million supporting the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, $3.11 million supporting Darline Graham, and $1.89 million opposing Andrews. Palmetto Action reported approximately $3.53 million opposing Mark Lynch, $3.19 million opposing former Rep. Ralph Norman, and $711,000 supporting Darline Graham. American Mission reported approximately $2.29 million supporting Darline Graham.

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

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