New super PAC aims to elect Black candidates in local races

A new super PAC dedicated to electing Black Democratic candidates to local offices has formed, with its founder pledging to fill a void arising from the state party's lack of vigor in supporting new office seekers.

“It is hard for candidates of color to raise money, and in a world where there are $1,000 campaign donation limits, it makes it even harder to have a well-funded campaign for candidates of color, especially first-time candidates of color,” said founder Reynolds Graves, a 34-year-old political consultant.

Graves, who worked on Harvard professor Danielle Allen’s recent gubernatorial campaign and state Rep. Jon Santiago’s 2021 run for Boston mayor, says limits on campaign contributions favor political veterans over relative newcomers.

In its declaration of purpose filed earlier this month, the 1866 Action Fund Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee indicated it would deliver paid media and voter engagement initiatives to local candidates with small teams and small bank accounts.

Graves declined to disclose the super PAC’s fundraising goals, financial commitments or leading members, saying only that the organization would be steered and supported by “a team of mostly Black” leaders, some of whom wish to remain anonymous and others to be revealed later.