Super PACs in the City : How Outside Money Is Reshaping Local Elections

The first book-length account of how independent expenditures transform local elections. Using original data and vivid cases, it shows when outside money moves votes, why accountability weakens, and what reform options exist. For citizens, journalists, students, and any reader who wants to understand power in city hall and school boards.

Following the landmark Citizens United ruling in 2010, a new era for campaigns has taken shape, not only at the federal and state level but also in many US cities. Super PACs in the City examines the transformation of the political landscape in urban America since then, providing the first book-length, data-driven account of how outside money has moved into local elections for city council, mayor, and school boards. Drawing on original candidate-level datasets and cross-city evidence, the book identifies when money moves votes, maps which races are most exposed, and explains how accountability weakens when information cues are thin. Case studies of New York City and Los Angeles bring the story to life, from Flash PACs built for a single election cycle to factional branding in cities where one party routinely wins. The book also discusses practical, actionable reforms that can be implemented to restore the balance and integrity to local democracy, providing a roadmap for policymakers and citizens alike.