Endorse Liberty

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Endorse Liberty
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Basic facts
Location:Salt Lake City, Utah[1]
Alexandria, Virginia[1]
Type:Super PAC
Affiliation:Republican
Top official:Abraham David Niederhauser, Treasurer
Year founded:2011
Website:Official website


Endorse Liberty was a super PAC that primarily supported former Congressman Ron Paul's (R-Texas) 2012 presidential campaign. The group consisted of "an alliance of entrepreneurs, inventors and creators" who aimed to "promote the cause of liberty as the founding principle that powers America," according to its website.[2]

Endorse Liberty was terminated in September 2014.[1]

Mission[edit]

According to the organization's website, Endorse Liberty had the following mission statement prior to filing for termination:[2]

Liberty is the foundation of American culture. We believe America can regain its place as the world's role model. We endorse and promote leaders who champion liberty.[3]

Background[edit]

The group was founded in December 2011 by four businessmen: Jeffrey Harmon, Ladd Christensen, Stephen Oskoui, and Abe Niederhauser. According to the Sunlight Foundation, the group established the super PAC in order to support former Rep. Ron Paul's (R-Texas) 2012 presidential campaign. Though none of the founders had a personal or professional connection to Paul, the businessmen saw Paul as the only presidential candidate who was “serious about the Constitution, spending cuts and balancing the budget,” according to the Sunlight Foundation's report[4]

Work[edit]

Super PACs
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Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia.

2014 elections[edit]

According to Open Secrets, Endorse Liberty did not make independent expenditures to support or oppose federal candidates during the 2014 election cycle.[5]

2012 elections[edit]

Endorse Liberty was the primary super PAC supporting Ron Paul during the 2012 presidential election. The super PAC dedicated the bulk of its independent expenditures toward daily internet advertising on websites such as Google, Facebook, and StumbleUpon.com. The group also created parody videos of 2012 presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.[5][6]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Expenditures[edit]

Endorse Liberty spent $3,580,138 during the 2012 election cycle to support Republican candidates. The following table identifies the groups largest 2012 expenditures:[7]

Endorse Liberty's ten largest 2012 expenditures[7]
Candidate Party State Office Total For Against Desired Result
Ron Paul Republican Party N/A Presidential $3,420,145 $3,420,145 $0
No.png
Ted Cruz Republican Party TX Senate $123,356 $123,356 $0
Yes.png
Kurt Bills Republican Party MN Senate $21,608 $21,608 $0
No.png
Wes Riddle Republican Party TX House $5,041 $5,041 $0
No.png
Tony Hernandez Republican Party MN House $2,752 $2,752 $0
No.png
Chris Fields Republican Party MN House $2,285 $2,285 $0
No.png
Steve Stockman Republican Party TX House $1,898 $1,898 $0
Yes.png
Lee Byberg Republican Party MN House $1,196 $1,196 $0
No.png
Jessica Puente Bradshaw Republican Party TX House $1,173 $1,173 $0
No.png
David Gerson Republican Party MN House $684 $684 $0
No.png

Finances[edit]

The following table identifies Endorse Liberty's total federal receipts and disbursements according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission:

Annual federal receipts and disbursements for Endorse Liberty, 2011-2014
Year Total receipts Total disbursements
2014 $25.00 $13,654.28
2013 $0.00 $2,964.19
2012 $2,912,582.81 $3,532,866.50
2011 $1,000,000.00 $415,720.50

Leadership[edit]

The following individuals held leadership positions with Endorse Liberty:[6]

  • Abe Niederhauser, Co-founder and treasurer
  • Jeffrey Harmon, Co-founder
  • Ladd Christensen, Co-founder
  • Stephen Oskoui, Co-founder
  • Dan Backer, Assistant treasurer and counsel

Legal status[edit]

Endorse Liberty was a super PAC. A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees. A super PAC is not legally considered a political action committee (PAC) and as such is regulated under separate rules.[8][9]

Media[edit]

January 2012 ad "Ron v. Mitt"
February 2012 ad "Dedicated to Our Troops"
January 2012 ad about Ron Paul
January 2012 ad "What Each Iowan Should Know for the Caucus"
January 2012 ad "Fake "Mitt Romney" Endorses Ron Paul"
January 2012 ad "Ron Paul - Watch this presentation to see why so many people believe in Ron Paul"

Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Endorse Liberty. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]


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