Political Leanings: Republican/Pro-John Kasich Super PAC
Spending Target: Unknown
New Day for America is a super PAC supporting Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
The PAC registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt 527 organization in April 2015, prior to Kasich announcing his candidacy for president. Once Kasich declared on July 21, 2015, New Day filed with the FEC as an independent expenditure-only committee, also known as a super PAC. As such, the organization may raise unlimited amounts of money, but must disclose the source of its donations, and is barred from coordinating with any candidate committee.
New Day for America employs several of Kasich’s former staffers. Matt Carle, who managed Kasich’s re-election campaign in 2014, is the PAC’s executive director, and Kasich’s former campaign and gubernatorial spokeswoman, Connie Wehrkamp, serves as its press secretary. The board of directors includes former New Hampshire Sen. John E. Sununu and Jo Ann Davidson, who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2009.
The group had raised more than $11 million between April 20 and June 30 of last year, based on its filing as a 527 with the IRS. It also reported raising $6.7 million from July 21, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The super PAC has been focusing on major ad buys. It has spent more than $8.7 million in independent expenditures supporting Kasich, as of March 2, 2016.
One of New Day’s largest donations — $1 million — came from the Wendt Family Trust, which supported the pro-Mitt Romney’s super PAC, Restore Our Future, in the 2012 campaign. And the Schottenstein Management Company a real estate group in Columbus, Ohio, also contributed $1 million.
Other $1 million donors include Tom Rastin, a vice president at the Ariel Corporation, who has donated to Republican candidates and committees extensively, and Abigail Wexner, the wife of Leslie Wexner, who founded Limited Brands, and is a prolific donor to both Republicans and Democrats. In addition, MMWP12, a Montana limited liability company, gave $500,000. According to the Center for Public Integrity, that company is linked (through a second company, K2M LLC) to Mark Kvamme, a Columbus, Ohio, venture capitalist who once served as an official in Kasich’s administration.
Fact-checking New Day for America:
Pro-Kasich Ad’s Misplaced Job Boast, March 2, 2016