Common Cause Mass. wades into U.S. Senate race with ‘dark money’ critique

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Anybody interested in tracking the rising temperature of the U.S. Senate primary featuring incumbent Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton would do well to look at a government watchdog jumping into the fray with a critique of a “dark money” group.

Common Cause Massachusetts has become choosier in recent years about which hills it decides to charge up, so it was notable when the watchdog paired up with its national-level parent on calling out undisclosed spending already underway in the primary.

In a May 14 letter that has not been widely released, Common Cause asked the candidates to publicly demand that certain organizations, known as 501c4s due to the tax code they operate under, voluntarily disclose their donors due to the spending. The organizations are not legally required to disclose the donors, leading some to be called “dark money” groups.

Calling for the groups to release the donors, and the amount they donated, is an “opportunity for you to send a clear message to voters that you are truly committed to transparency,” wrote Abigail Bellows of the national Common Cause, and Geoff Foster, executive director of the Massachusetts branch, wrote to the candidates.

The request was spurred by a Federal Elections Commission (FEC) complaint filed by the D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center, a Common Cause partner. The CLC alleged that a group, which describes itself as a 501c4, calls itself “MA Progress Action” and has ties to a Moulton donor, may have failed to register, organize and report as a political committee, rather than as a 501c4, due to its ad focusing aim at Markey and his 50 years in D.C.

In an April story on the ad in April, the Boston Globe noted a “MA Progress Action” press release named Todd Kanter, the Moulton donor and a managing director at Silvercrest Asset Management Group as the group’s board chair. Emails requesting comment from Kanter and the group, which the Globe reported had spent more than $40,000 on TV ads last month, went unanswered Wednesday.

“While the FEC will ultimately make a determination on that complaint, it may not happen in time to equip voters with the information needed to make an informed decision in the state primary election or the general election,” Foster and Bellows wrote. “That’s why candidates in this race should call for their 501(c)(4) supporters to voluntarily disclose who is funding their political spending.”

Markey and Moulton signed on after a MASSterList inquiry. Markey’s campaign manager Cam Charbonnier sent a letter to Common Cause Wednesday saying due to Markey’s history of criticizing “dark money,” “it is perhaps not surprising that the only dark money 501c4 currently involved in this race is spending money on negative attack ads targeting him in an effort to bolster his opponent.”

Moulton said in a statement, "As a longtime champion of campaign finance reform and transparency in politics, I support Common Cause's call."

Markey has a super PAC, funded by unions and backed by Granite Telecommunications CEO Robert Hale, though it’s required to disclose its donors and spending. The group is chaired by George Bachrach, who worked on Markey’s earliest campaign for Congress in 1976.

Alex Rikleen, another Democratic candidate running for Senate, also signed onto Common Cause’s call, according to Foster.

The back and forth over “dark money” comes as the Democratic state convention approaches. Insiders expect Moulton to clear the 15% threshold of delegate support and make the Sept. 1 ballot.

Multiple polls have indicated Markey has a healthy lead over his opponents, though a recent Emerson College poll showed Moulton just five points behind him. Charbonnier, the campaign manager, told Axios Boston it was a “clear outlier” while the campaign fired out a fundraising email calling the poll a “huge alarm bell, and we have to respond.”

I’m taking guesses at Moulton’s total percentage at the convention later this month. Send me yours: [email protected].

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HAPPENING TODAY

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10:30 | Gov. Maura Healey attends the 2026 Memorial Day Name Reading with First Lady Joanna Lydgate. | Boston Common

11:00 | The state Lottery Commission holds a public hearing on allowing products to be sold online through iLottery. After delays, the platform is expected to launch this summer, with revenues slated to fund early childhood education grants. Treasurer Deb Goldberg has said iLottery is expected to bring in $70 million net profits in the first year of operations and climb to nearly $360 million after a decade. | More Info and Access

1:00 | The special working group created in a 2024 economic development law to investigate the health impacts and financial challenges around youth sports holds a hearing to accept testimony. | Room 437, State House, Boston | More Info and Livestream

1:30 | Gov. Maura Healey hosts Military Appreciation Day to honor servicemembers, veterans, military families and advocates nominated by state lawmakers. First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and others are expected to join. | House Chamber, State House, Boston

5:30 | The Environmental League of Massachusetts hosts its annual Earth Night 2026 event, which organizers say is typically attended by more than 500 government officials, business leaders and environmental advocates. Recipients of Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awards this year are Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch, who founded and leads Climate Jobs MA; Barr Foundation President Ali Noorani; and Vineyard Offshore CEO Alicia Barton. | Fenway Park, Boston | Register

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FROM BEACON HILL

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VICTIMS ADVOCACY: The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, Jane Doe Inc and other members of a coalition for victims advocacy are sounding the alarm about a drop in federal funds, and asking Gov. Maura Healey to provide $13.8 million in the annual state budget for services of victims of homicide, rape, and domestic violence. – Newburyport News

SENATE BUDGET: Senate Democrats quickly dealt with 574 budget amendments on Tuesday while calling the moves part of a “robust debate.” – State House News Service (gift link)

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IN-PERSON MEETING: The entire Springfield City Council – 13 members – had an in-person meeting for the first time since the pandemic. The top topic on the agenda? Whether to end remote attendance. – MassLive

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EDUCATION LAWSUIT: The Lawyers for Civil Rights are representing a group that alleges in a new lawsuit that Massachusetts is violating its constitution through policies that led to racially segregated school districts. – GBH News

CARNEY REDEVELOPMENT: The redevelopment of the campus that was once home to Carney Hospital is advancing, with a $450 million plan expected to be filed with Boston planning officials this week. – Dorchester Reporter

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