What Is a Super PAC?
A Super PAC (officially known as an "Independent Expenditure-Only Committee") is a type of political committee that can raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations, and individuals, and spend unlimited sums to advocate for or against political candidates.
How Super PACs Differ from Regular PACs
| Feature | Regular PAC | Super PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution limits to candidates | $5,000/election | Cannot contribute directly |
| Fundraising limits | $5,000/year per individual | Unlimited |
| Corporate/union donations | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Coordination with candidates | Allowed | Prohibited |
The Key Rule: No Coordination
The legal foundation of Super PACs is that they operate independently from candidates. They cannot:
- Coordinate messaging or strategy with a candidate's campaign
- Share internal polling or research
- Discuss advertising timing or placement
In practice, critics argue that the line between "independent" and "coordinated" activity is often blurred.
Why Super PACs Matter
Since the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC (2010) decision and the subsequent SpeechNow.org v. FEC ruling, Super PACs have become major players in federal elections. In the 2024 cycle, Super PACs spent billions of dollars on advertising and voter outreach.
Top Super PACs
The largest Super PACs in the 2026 cycle include Senate Majority PAC (supporting Democrats) and Senate Leadership Fund (supporting Republicans), each raising hundreds of millions of dollars for competitive Senate races.