In the two days since the INDY published its investigation into Yes for Durham—a new 501(c)(4) nonprofit with undisclosed leadership and connections to one of its endorsed candidates—all four of the municipal candidates endorsed by the group have publicly disavowed it on social media.
Statements from Leonardo Williams, Mark-Anthony Middleton, Matt Kopac, and Diana Medoff all assert that the candidates have not coordinated with Yes for Durham and will not accept its money.
Williams, Kopac, and Medoff included in their statements that they don’t want support from 501(c)(4)s—which can also make independent expenditures supporting candidates, such as sending mailers or running ads—in general. In a text to the INDY, Middleton also said he opposes such support, stating that “dark money has no place in Durham’s local politics and all candidates should commit to that”—Yes For Durham “endorsement status notwithstanding.”…