REVEALED: Oil Industry Lobbying Group Funded ‘Dark Money’ Ad Campaign for Conservative Democrats

The American Petroleum Institute's latest tax filing reveals payments to an opaque group that has spent millions on ads promoting Henry Cuellar, Kyrsten Sinema, and other conservative Democrats.

Better Jobs Together ad

A “dark money” group that spent millions of dollars this year on ads supporting conservative Democrats, including Reps. Henry Cuellar and Kurt Schrader, was funded by oil and gas industry lobbying group the American Petroleum Institute, Sludge has discovered.

The American Petroleum Institute’s (API) 990 tax form for 2021 shows it paid more than $3.5 million to the Better Jobs Together Campaign, an opaque Virginia corporation that was formed in April 2021, for advocacy services it performed as an independent contractor. Better Jobs Together has spent more than $2.5 million according to AdImpact figures to run television ads that praise a handful of conservative congressional Democrats for policies that they say protect the climate and jobs. API did not respond to a request for comment.

No Labels Funnels Finance Money to Congress

Billionaire investor Howard Marks and private equity executives with firms like Bain Capital and Neuberger Berman made earmarked donations through a No Labels PAC this year.

Democratic National Convention Chair’s Firm Helps Companies Block Labor Laws

Dewey Square Group, where Minyon Moore leads State and Local Affairs, was paid millions of dollars last year by a Lyft-funded industry group fighting state labor protections.

Hundreds of Large Companies Undermine Their Own Climate Pledges Through Lobbying: Report

According to the environmentalist organization InfluenceMap, more than 60 companies are at "significant risk of net zero greenwashing" due to lobbying that contradicts their own climate pledges

Read next