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.

‘Super PACs in the City arrives exactly on time. Big money interests increasingly dominate federal elections, but we know far less about their role down-ballot. Schatzinger fills the gap with a compelling theory and a wide range of impressive, original data. This book-wonderfully written-breaks new ground.’

Michael Franz - Bowdoin College

‘Henrik Schatzinger refines the idea that independent expenditures have their greatest potential influence in low-information elections through a theory of conditional power, which he develops through a well-written and well-researched analysis. This book is aimed not only at election scholars but at national, state, and local reformers. I recommend it highly.’

Michael J. Malbin - University at Albany, SUNY and Co-Founder and Director, The Campaign Finance Institute

‘This is the first book to document the consequential and destructive changes independent expenditure groups have wrought in municipal elections. It is essential reading for anyone who cares about urban politics and fills a major gap.’

Robert G. Boatright - Clark University

‘Super PACs in the City offers a compelling account of how super PACs are reshaping the electoral dynamics of local elections across the United States. Through a careful blend of detailed case studies and clear, accessible statistical analyses, the book develops a persuasive theory of super PAC power in local politics, making it essential reading for scholars and practitioners alike.’

Jen Heerwig - Stony Brook University

‘Schatzinger’s new book convincingly demonstrates that local elections are uniquely vulnerable to outside money. By shifting attention from spending totals to informational context, Super PACs in the City makes an important theoretical and empirical contribution, offering insights that will matter to scholars of campaigns, cities, and democratic governance.’

Raymond J. La Raja - University of Massachusetts Amherst

‘With the increasing nationalization of politics in the United States, local politics has been pushed to the sidelines of political science research. Schatzinger's new book is a corrective to this trend, offering a laser-like focus on the local dimensions of money in politics. Read this timely book to better understand exactly how outside groups are reshaping city politics.’

Heath Brown - John Hay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY