How much money will be spent on the 2024 election?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the data from the visual, how much money was spent on the 1998 midterm election?
According to the data from the visual, how much money is predicted to be spent on the 2024 election?
Describe one trend you see in the data.
Why do you think presidential election years cost more than non-presidential election (midterm) years?
As OpenSecrets has reported, outside spending for 2024 is well outpacing previous cycles. As of Oct.7, outside spending — largely through independent expenditures purchased by super PACs and hybrid PACs — reached $2.6 billion, nearly a billion dollars more than outside groups had spent by the same point in 2020. WHy do you think so many people chose to send their money to PACs and outside groups instead of giving the money directly to the candidates?
Claim: the increase in campaign spending is a sign of the good health of American democracy. Use your reading of the chart and your knowledge of American politics to respond to this claim.
What question do you have about the data from the visual above?
Explain how the ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission impacted the spending in the chart? (Pro Tip: this is one of the 14 landmark SCOTUS cases that you should definitely know! You can learn a whole lot more about this case right here!)
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world is offering cash to registered voters who sign a petition from his super political action committee, America PAC. The tech mogul is a powerful supporter of Donald Trump. And in the swing state of Pennsylvania, not only is Musk's political organization paying every registered voter who signs its petition $100, plus another $100 for every person they refer who sign. It's now offering a daily cash prize of $1 million to some lucky signer until Election Day. Musk has already spent more than $100 million on getting Donald Trump elected. Donald Trump said on Thursday he would establish a government efficiency commission headed by billionaire supporter Elon Musk. Why do you think Musk is spending so much money on Donald Trump?
Who do you think is going to win the election?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Here are the polling times for elections in every state in the union. If you are old enough, go vote. If you aren’t old enough to vote, help drive someone to vote, if you can’t drive someone to vote, convince someone to vote. If you can’t convince someone to vote then send good vibes out into the universe.
Get Creative
Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have endorsed Kamala Harris, while major influencers like TikToker Bryce Hall, YouTuber Jake Paul and streamer FaZe Banks have signaled support for Trump. You are a celebrity in your own social media world. Endorse a candidate on social media.