REPRESENTUS RAMPS UP SUPPORT FOR NEW JERSEY’S ‘DARK MONEY’ REFORMS

PRINCETON, NJ – On January 14, 2017, RepresentUs released a new video, titled “Defend the Win,” with a simple message: Partisan gerrymandering rigs elections and protects secret “dark money” donors. The video is part of a larger push to stop partisan gerrymandering in the state of New Jersey, and will be followed by a “Dark Money” movie screening on February 10th.

“They are two sides of the same coin,” said David Goodman, a spokesperson for Represent New Jersey, who testified against partisan gerrymandering in December 2018. “Partisan Gerrymandering serves to strengthen the forces and effectiveness of dark money. What it really amounts to is rigging elections—politicians prioritizing big donors to get elected, and then redrawing their districts to stay in office. They are picking their voters, instead of the other way around.”

One month ago, Represent New Jersey alongside coalition partners, like the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, organized the fight against the partisan gerrymandering bills with action alerts, countless calls to legislators, impromptu hallway lobbying and in-person advocacy at the Statehouse in Trenton.  Facing massive grassroots pressure, the Senate President and Assembly Speaker pulled the amendment. RepresentUs members showed that this movement is ready to fight against corruption by those in power—regardless of party affiliation.

Just one month after this victory, the state Senate will now hold hearings on a major “Dark Money” bill, S-1500, on January 17th.   This would require disclosure and transparency of funds spent by independent committees and issue advocacy organizations in New Jersey.  The bill is supported by Senate President Steve Sweeney. Governor Phil Murphy has called for new laws.

“We want voters to support ‘Fair Districts NJ’ but also to know that redistricting is more than redrawing election maps,” said David Goodman. “It’s about keeping Big Money from rigging these maps.  It’s about keeping Government ‘of, by, and for’ the people.”

For more information about the anti-corruption efforts in New Jersey and the DARK MONEY special event in Princeton on February 10, 2019, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ dark-money-a-political- thriller-tickets-54146666136