By Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, Dist. 24, Jun. 08, 2025
Everyone Hates Dark Money—Until It’s Their PAC
It’s funny to me how selectively some people use the phrase “Dark Out-of-State Money” when referring to certain groups contributing to Idaho politics. They’ll eagerly call out one set of contributors yet conveniently turn a blind eye and even justify when you point out similar funding from other out-of-state or even out-of-country organizations. Strangely enough, it seems perfectly acceptable to them when elected officials receive money from these sources.
“Dark Money” generally refers to political funding used to influence elections where the identities of the donors remain undisclosed, deliberately hidden, or routed through non-transparent networks. It often involves anonymous donations to nonprofit entities, such as 501(c)(4) organizations, which aren’t legally required to reveal their funding sources. These hidden contributions allow wealthy individuals, corporations, unions, or other interest groups to influence elections without public scrutiny or accountability, leading to political impacts that voters cannot easily trace or challenge. Read more.