FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2020
Contact: press@jeanneshaheen.org

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen proposes Clean Elections Agreement for NH’s U.S. Senate Race

Shaheen’s Agreement targets outside spending, illegal campaign tactics and foreign interference, which “distort and drown out Granite State voices”

Manchester, N.H. — Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen asked her Republican opponent, Corky Messner, to sign a “Clean Elections Agreement” to discourage outside spending from dark money groups, prevent illegal campaign tactics that suppress votes, and help block foreign adversaries from influencing our election.

In a letter addressed to Messner, Shaheen asks her opponent to join her in signing the Agreement, noting: “New Hampshire families deserve leaders focused on making a difference for them, and a campaign focused on the urgent issues affecting our state. Unfortunately, money from outside groups, campaign tactics that suppress votes, and interference from foreign adversaries can make that impossible, with the potential to distort and drown out the voices of Granite Staters. We can’t let that happen.”

Shaheen outlines the corrosive effects of dark money, illegal campaign tactics, and foreign interference on our democracy, and lays out the terms of her proposed Agreement: “By joining me in signing it, you would agree to not solicit or accept assistance from foreign adversaries in your campaign in any form, and to report any offers of aid from foreign enemies, including hacked materials, to both federal authorities and to rival campaigns. You would also agree not to engage in any illegal tactics to influence voter turnout. Lastly, you would agree to disrupt the agenda of dark money groups by pledging to donate 50 percent of the cost of any outside advertisements run in your favor to a charity agreed upon by rival campaigns. This pledge must include both candidates for U.S. Senate and will be activated as soon as you join me in signing it.”

Shaheen’s full letter is linked here and below, as well as the Clean Elections Agreement she has signed.

Mr. Bryant “Corky” Messner
c/o Messner for Senate
PO Box 10370
Bedford, NH 03110

Dear Mr. Messner,

New Hampshire families deserve leaders focused on making a difference for them, and a campaign focused on the urgent issues affecting our state. Unfortunately, money from outside groups, campaign tactics that suppress votes, and interference from foreign adversaries can make that impossible, with the potential to distort and drown out the voices of Granite Staters. We can’t let that happen.

During recent U.S. Senate campaigns in New Hampshire, outside spending by dark money groups has been excessive, with tens of millions of dollars being spent in both the 2014 and 2016 elections. Mere weeks after announcing that I was seeking re-election for 2020, third party groups started spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in outside advertisements seeking to misrepresent my record.

For decades, New Hampshire campaigns have been influenced by illegal campaign tactics designed to suppress certain votes. From phone-jamming on Election Day, to sending out targeted mail with false information on voting, these malicious and illegal tactics have stripped individuals of their right-to-vote by cutting off necessary resources for them to reach the ballot box.

Equally dangerous are foreign adversaries seeking to influence our campaigns. U.S. intelligence agencies in the Trump Administration and the Republican-controlled Senate Intelligence Committee determined that a foreign enemy, Russia, illegally influenced our 2016 presidential election. Then, in 2018, Russia and other foreign actors doubled down on their strategy, targeting members of Congress and impacting down ballot races across the country. Last year, President Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, said foreign interference will be used “to try to weaken democratic institutions, undermine U.S. alliances and partnerships and shape policy outcomes in the United States and elsewhere.” U.S. intelligence has already reported that Russia is doing everything it can to interfere in the 2020 elections, and government officials in China and Iran are actively working to hack American political campaigns in the run up to November.

Granite Staters deserve a lot better. To that end, I am asking you to agree to stand against third party special interest spending and report any interference from foreign adversaries by signing a Clean Elections Agreement.

The “Clean Elections Agreement” can discourage outside spending from dark money groups, prevent tactics that suppress votes, and block foreign adversaries from influencing our election. By joining me in signing it, you would agree to not solicit or accept assistance from foreign adversaries in your campaign in any form, and to report any offers of aid from foreign enemies, including hacked materials, to both federal authorities and to rival campaigns. You would also agree not to engage in any illegal tactics to influence voter turnout. Lastly, you would agree to disrupt the agenda of dark money groups by pledging to donate 50 percent of the cost of any outside advertisements run in your favor to a charity agreed upon by rival campaigns. This pledge must include both candidates for U.S. Senate and will be activated as soon as you join me in signing it.

If dark money groups can sink millions of dollars into our elections to push their own agendas, and succeed, our democracy is threatened. If Granite Staters lose out on the opportunity to vote because they are victimized by illegal campaign tactics, our democracy is threatened. If foreign adversaries can dictate the winner of our elections, or even provide undue influence, our democracy is threatened. We must stand up and protect it.

I hope you will stand with me, and with New Hampshire by signing the enclosed copy and returning it to my campaign as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senator

The Candidates on behalf of their respective campaigns hereby agree to the following:

• In the event that a third party organization, including but not limited to individuals, corporations, 527 organizations, 501(c) organizations, SuperPACs, and national and state party committees, airs any independent expenditure broadcast (including radio), cable, satellite, or online advertising in support of a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified Candidate, that Candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s total cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposing candidates’ choice.
• In the event that a third party organization airs any independent expenditure broadcast (including radio), cable, satellite, or online advertising in opposition to a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified Candidate, the benefitting Candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s total cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposing candidates’ choice.
• In the event that a third party organization airs any broadcast (including radio), cable, satellite, or online advertising that promotes or supports a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified Candidate, the benefitting Candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s total cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposing candidates’ choice.
• In the event that a third party organization airs any broadcast (including radio), cable, satellite, or online advertising that attacks or opposes a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified Candidate, the benefitting Candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s total cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposing candidates’ choice.
• The Candidates and their campaigns agree that neither they nor anyone acting on their behalf shall coordinate with any third party, including but not limited to individuals, corporations, 527 organizations, 501(c) organizations, SuperPACs, and national and state party committees, on any paid advertising for the duration of the 2020 election cycle (as legally required by federal elections law). In the event that either Candidate or their campaign or anyone acting on their behalf coordinates any paid advertisement with a third party organization the benefitting Candidate’s campaign shall pay 50% of the cost of the ad buy to a charity of the opposing candidates’ choice and immediately disclose the extent of the illegal coordination to federal authorities. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a campaign from accepting a legal in-kind contribution within the contribution limits.
• The Candidates and their campaigns agree to continue to work together to limit the influence of third party advertisements and to close any loopholes (including coverage of sham ads) that arise in this agreement during the course of the campaign.
• The Candidates and their campaigns agree not to engage in any illegal tactics designed to suppress Granite State votes to support the Candidates or the Candidates’ campaigns.
• The Candidates and their campaigns agree not to engage in any illegal tactics designed to suppress Granite State votes to undermine an opposing Candidate or that Candidate’s campaign.
• In the event that a third party, or a third party acting on their behalf, offers to engage in any illegal tactics designed to suppress Granite State votes, the Candidate must immediately report the offer to federal authorities and disclose the proposal to the opposing candidates.
• The Candidates and their campaigns agree not to solicit the support of adversarial foreign third parties to promote or support the Candidates or the Candidates’ campaigns.
• The Candidates and their campaigns agree not to solicit the support of adversarial foreign third parties to attack or oppose an opposing Candidate or that Candidate’s campaign.
• In the event that an adversarial foreign third party, or a third party acting on their behalf, offers campaign assistance, including hacked materials from foreign adversaries, to a Candidate or Candidate’s campaign, the Candidate must immediately report the offer to federal authorities and disclose the proposal to the opposing candidates.
• In the event that an adversarial foreign third party, or a third party acting on their behalf, provides hacked materials from foreign adversaries on a Candidate or a Candidate’s campaign to the media, opposing Candidates will not utilize these materials.

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