ACLU's Historic $25 Million Investment in Down-Ballot Races to Defend and Expand Civil Liberties

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has announced an unprecedented investment of over $25 million in down-ballot races across the United States for the upcoming election cycle. This strategic move aims to bolster issues such as abortion rights and to shift the organization's approach from defense to offense in the fight for civil liberties.

Largest Electoral Investment to Date

This planned expenditure marks the ACLU’s largest financial commitment to an election cycle. Deirdre Schifeling, the ACLU's chief political and advocacy officer, shared the details first with NBC News. "This is the most amount of money that we’ve spent in an election cycle,” Schifeling stated, highlighting the significant increase from the $16 million spent during the 2020 cycle.

Targeted Races and Measures

The ACLU's involvement will span several critical races and initiatives, including:

- The U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin

- State Supreme Court races in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and North Carolina

- State legislative races in Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin

Additionally, the ACLU will support proposed ballot measures to enshrine abortion rights in state constitutions in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, and New York. Efforts for redistricting reform in Ohio will also receive substantial backing.

Strategic Use of Funds

The investment will fund multiple initiatives, including:

- Organizing "volunteer deployments" to educate voters on responding to hostile poll monitors

- Direct mail, digital ads, radio ads, and door-to-door canvassing

- Building a grassroots base of volunteers for door-knocking and phone-banking

“The organization is really, really good on defense, and now we’re also building up the ability to be really good on offense as well,” Schifeling explained. The funds will be disbursed through the ACLU Voter Education Fund, the group’s first federal super PAC.

Nonpartisan Voter Engagement

Despite its prominent stance on civil liberties, the ACLU remains officially nonpartisan. Its efforts focus on educating voters about issues and candidates' positions rather than endorsing specific candidates. This cycle, the primary focus will be on reproductive rights, voting rights, and democracy.

“We are nonpartisan, so we do not tell voters who to vote for, but we do give them sharp and clear information on candidates’ records,” Schifeling said. “This cycle, we are focused primarily on voter education around what’s at stake in this election and what candidates’ positions are on key issues.”

Voter Protection and Advocacy

A portion of the investment will go toward voter protection work, litigation advocacy, and preparing voters to deal with potentially hostile poll monitors. This response is partly driven by the Republican National Committee's plans to establish a robust poll monitoring operation for the November election.

Mobilizing Grassroots Efforts

The ACLU aims to build a substantial grassroots movement, mobilizing volunteers for extensive voter outreach. The goal in many state legislative races is to ensure a strong pro-civil rights, pro-civil liberties contingent capable of upholding or overriding gubernatorial vetoes on critical issues such as reproductive and voting rights.

A Groundbreaking Commitment

The ACLU's $25 million investment represents a groundbreaking commitment to protecting and expanding civil liberties across the country. By focusing on down-ballot races and ballot measures, the organization aims to create a significant impact on the electoral landscape, promoting a more inclusive and equitable society. This historic move underscores the ACLU's dedication to advancing civil rights and liberties in an increasingly challenging political environment.

The ACLU's initiative comes at a critical time when reproductive rights, voting rights, and broader civil liberties are under threat across many states. By strategically focusing on state Supreme Court races, legislative contests, and ballot measures, the ACLU hopes to ensure that these rights are not only defended but expanded. The organization’s efforts aim to empower voters, educate the public on critical issues, and build a robust network of grassroots activists dedicated to civil liberties.

Schifeling emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “By shaping our electoral environment by communicating with voters about electing the person who’s going to actually support civil rights and civil liberties, we can make a real difference. This is about going beyond defense and actively winning civil rights and civil liberties.”

The ACLU's investment is a testament to its commitment to fostering a democratic society where every individual’s rights are protected and upheld. As the election approaches, the organization’s efforts will be crucial in ensuring that voters are informed, engaged, and empowered to make decisions that will shape the future of civil liberties in America.