Superpac vs PAC

PACs vs. Super PACs: Lessons in Political Power

‍

Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs are powerful tools for influencing elections—but they play by different rules. Traditional PACs can donate directly to candidates (up to $5,000 per election), but face strict limits. Super PACs, enabled by the Citizens United decision in 2010, can raise and spend unlimited funds—so long as they don’t coordinate directly with campaigns. Instead, they flood airwaves with ads, fund opposition research, and shape public opinion.

AIPAC’s playbook includes dual PACs: its traditional PAC donates to pro-Israel candidates, while its Super PAC, United Democracy Project (UDP), spent over $1 million in 2022 to attack progressive Democrats like Summer Lee, who criticized Israeli policies. Similarly, the NRA leverages its PAC to fund gun-rights allies and its Super PAC to bombard swing districts with ads, framing debates on Second Amendment issues.

‍

Why the Black Community Needs a Seat at the Table

‍

While Black entrepreneurs and businesses are increasingly optimistic—73% plan to explore online lending, and 48% use lines of credit for growth—their political influence lags behind economic strides. Unlike AIPAC’s centralized funding machine, Black business funding remains fragmented, often reliant on personal credit cards (39%) or crowdfunding (19%). Long-term investment initiatives, like Echoing Green’s $6 million fellowship for Black innovators, show promise but lack the scale to counter well-funded lobbies.

To compete, the Black business marketplace must:

• Pool Resources: Establish Black-led PACs to support candidates focused on equitable access to capital, contracts, and opportunity.
• Scale Narratives: Use Super PACs to shape public discourse on economic justice—just as AIPAC has redefined U.S. policy debates.
• Push for Transparency: Demand clearer campaign finance rules to neutralize the influence of "dark money" in elections.

Without this structural shift, systemic barriers—like inflation (a top concern for 71% of Black-owned firms) and unequal access to venture capital—will persist‍. The lesson from AIPAC and the NRA is clear: money amplifies voice. For Black communities, building parallel infrastructure isn’t just strategic—it’s essential for rewriting the rules of political engagement

‍

For Black America, influence won’t be gifted. It must be engineered.

‍

Read: What is a superPAC