Dark money is a dangerous thing. Pennsylvania’s election code precisely recites how candidates must disclose the money they receive. The code does not cover money some third party spends on the candidate’s behalf. Rep. Frank Dermody has been striving for full disclosure for years, like in HB1332 of 2017 and HB1989 of 2015. He and his 21 co-sponsors just can’t get a hearing.

The “REDMAP Project” is an excellent example of dark money. The New Yorker detailed this at length. About 10 days before the election, the project dumps a bath of generally out-of-state money into selected races. Flyers begin appearing which make some wild-eyed exaggeration. In 2010, 24 such mailers appeared within the 10-day time frame. Similar ads suddenly appeared on cable TV. The victim never has time — or funds — to respond.

Since Pennsylvania refuses to pass a disclosure act, this dark money is untraceable. We found that the dark money dumped in House District 16 actually came from Walmart. That money was dumped too soon, so the incumbent discovered the funder and held his seat. Altira and American Snuff Co. contributed dark money in House Districts 33 and 39. The money was timely, so both incumbents lost. These elections had been bought.

Voters should look around Western Pennsylvania’s House and Senate districts to glean which races the project will most likely inundate with dark money. All negative flyers and ads are propaganda.