Beasley campaign returns corporate PAC money to maintain fundraising pledge

Cheri Beasley’s campaign for U.S. Senate returned a $2,000 check from a corporate PAC on Wednesday, about three months after the campaign received it, following an inquiry from The Charlotte Observer.

Beasley, along with other Democratic candidates for Senate, had promised to not take corporate PAC money during their campaigns. But in July, it accepted the check from a political action committee that donates on behalf of a law firm, according to federal campaign finance records.

The Beasley campaign said it accepted the donation in error, and that they returned the money almost as soon as it was brought to their attention.

The donation came from the Cozen O’Connor PAC, the fundraising arm of a Philadelphia-based law firm that has an office in Charlotte. The PAC’s latest statement of organization clarifies that it is a corporate PAC, even though it is acting on behalf on a law firm.

According to the firm’s website, it employs more than 775 attorneys in 30 states and specializes in business law, litigation and government relations. It also represents employers in labor disputes, helping its clients “prepare for and respond to picket lines, strikes, lockouts, and other economic campaigns; and work with employers during union election campaigns.”

“The contribution was accepted in error, has since been refunded, and the next (Federal Election Commission) report will reflect that,” Dory MacMillan, Beasley’s communications director, said in a statement. “Cheri is a proud former union member and is honored to have earned the endorsement of End Citizens United // Let America Vote, the leading organization dedicated to getting corporate money out of politics.”

Corporate money in politics

Democratic candidates have been especially vocal about keeping corporate money out of campaigns, hoping to reduce the influence of corporations in law-making and enforcement.

In North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, Beasley, state senator Jeff Jackson and former state senator Erica Smith have all pledged to not accept corporate dollars. A review of the three candidates’ campaign finance reports found that none, aside from Beasley, had accepted corporate PAC money in the third reporting quarter.

Adam Bozzi, the communications director for End Citizens United, a political action committee focused on reducing corporate influence in politics, said the group was not concerned that Beasley accepted the money since she decided to return it within hours of the Observer’s inquiry.

The group has endorsed Beasley as its preferred Senate candidate.

“We know that she’ll remain true to our shared values,” Bozzi said. “We know that she’s the best candidate to advance an agenda that will limit the influence of big money in politics.”

MaryBe McMillan, the president of the North Carolina chapter of the AFL-CIO, said the group contacted the Beasley campaign following a request for comment from the Observer. The group has not endorsed any of the Senate candidates.

“As a former union member, we know Cheri supports unions and workers, and we’re glad that this has been resolved,” McMillan said.

It is unclear how much the pledges to not take corporate PAC money have helped Democratic candidates in North Carolina, said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte.

Despite attacks from Democrats that U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, had taken corporate PAC money, Burr won two reelection campaigns with plenty of votes to spare.

“In a general election, partisanship pretty much overwhelms everything,” Heberlig said.

In a Democratic primary, though, it could be more consequential.

“That has become a real signal that their support is broad based from the people rather than from the 1%,” he said.

Beasley raised more money than any other candidate, Democrat or Republican, in the third quarter of the North Carolina Senate race, with more than $1.5 million in donations. Jackson raised $902,000 and Smith raised $128,000. Jackson has raised the most overall, with $2.91 million, compared to Beasley’s $2.79 million.

The candidates are vying to replace Burr, who is not running for reelection. Primary elections are scheduled for March 2022, with a general election in November.

This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 3:40 PM.

Will Wright

The Charlotte Observer

Will Wright covers politics in Charlotte and North Carolina. He previously covered eastern Kentucky for the Lexington Herald-Leader, and worked as a reporting fellow at The New York Times.