PAC · DC · C00831495
Defend the Vote Leadership Fund
A traditional political action committee. It raises limited contributions and can give directly to candidates. Joint fundraising committee.
First filed Jan. 17, 2023. Treasurer: Brian Lemek. Connected organization: None. View on FEC.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Raised (2025-26)$327,134
- Spent$324,015
- Cash on hand$6,355
- Outside spending$0
Raised, spent and cash on hand through reports covering Oct. 14, 2026.
Where its money went
- Given: the group’s own contributions to the campaign
- Bundled: donors’ contributions the group collected and forwarded
- For: outside spending supporting
- Against: outside spending opposing
- Pete Aguilar (D) (opens in a new tab)House · CA-33
- Hakeem S. Jeffries (D) (opens in a new tab)House · NY-08
- Katherine Clark (D) (opens in a new tab)House · MA-05
Bundled contributions (money donors route through a PAC to specific candidates) are broken out only for groups on our issue pages.
Money to parties and other committees
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Defend the Vote | $14,000 |
Who funds it
Largest single contributions this cycle. Committees and organizations link to their own pages when they file with the FEC; an organization that doesn’t file won’t show its own donors here.
| Contributor | Type | From | Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand, AnneliseNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Charlottesville, VA | March 25, 2026 | $2,000 (opens in a new tab) |
| Keller, LauraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Lexington, KY | Feb. 14, 2026 | $1,000 (opens in a new tab) |
| Coles, DavidNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Fort Wayne, IN | March 24, 2026 | $1,000 (opens in a new tab) |
| Coles, DavidNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Fort Wayne, IN | Sept. 23, 2025 | $542 (opens in a new tab) |
| Coles, DavidNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Fort Wayne, IN | July 14, 2025 | $542 (opens in a new tab) |
| Gordon-Lorentzen, AnneNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Prescott, AZ | March 16, 2026 | $350 (opens in a new tab) |
| Garrelts, LarryAcctg, Self-Employed | Person | Rexburg, ID | April 4, 2026 | $250 (opens in a new tab) |
| Buhler, LynnTherapist, Tpag | Person | Baltimore, MD | Sept. 2, 2025 | $250 (opens in a new tab) |
| Bowditch, JamesNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Camden, ME | April 4, 2026 | $235 (opens in a new tab) |
| Michelsen, MarkRetired, Not Employed | Person | Salt Lake City, UT | March 24, 2026 | $210 (opens in a new tab) |
| Michelsen, MarkRetired, Not Employed | Person | Salt Lake City, UT | March 24, 2026 | $210 (opens in a new tab) |
| Kirts, KarenNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Bowie, MD | Oct. 20, 2025 | $209 (opens in a new tab) |
| Kirts, KarenNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Bowie, MD | Sept. 20, 2025 | $209 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | June 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | May 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | April 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | March 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | Feb. 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | Jan. 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | Nov. 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
| Epstein, BarbaraNot Employed, Not Employed | Person | Beachwood, OH | Oct. 5, 2025 | $200 (opens in a new tab) |
See every contribution to Defend the Vote Leadership Fund on FEC.gov (opens in a new tab). Contributions of $200 or less aren’t listed by name.