PAC · CA · C00771238
Defend the Dream
A traditional political action committee. It raises limited contributions and can give directly to candidates. Leadership PAC (tied to a sitting politician).
First filed March 2, 2021. Treasurer: Stephen J Kaufman. Connected organization: Padilla. View on FEC.gov
- Raised (2025-26)$1,386,379
- Spent$1,326,982
- Cash on hand$260,849
- Outside spending$0
Through reports covering Aug. 31, 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
- Ben Ray Luján (D)Senate · NM
- Jack Reed (D)Senate · RI
- Sherrod Brown (D)Senate · OH
- Roy Cooper (D)Senate · NC
- Derek Tran (D)House · CA-45
- Chris Pappas (D)Senate · NH
- Cory Booker (D)Senate · NJ
- Jeff Merkley (D)Senate · OR
- Mark Warner (D)Senate · VA
- Adam Gray (D)House · CA-13
- John Hickenlooper (D)Senate · CO
- Scott Colom (D)Senate · MS
- Chris Coons (D)Senate · DE
- Mary Peltola (D)Senate · AK
- Jon Ossoff (D)Senate · GA
- Dave Min (D)House · CA-47
- Ed Markey (D)Senate · MA
- Mike Thompson (D)House · CA-04
- James Talarico (D)Senate · TX
- Josh Turek (D)Senate · IA
Showing the top 20 of 36 candidates.
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 |
|---|---|
| DSCC | $105,000 |
| CHC Bold PAC | $10,000 |
| Cooper Victory Fund | $5,000 |
| Democratic Party of Illinois | $5,000 |
| California Democratic Party | $5,000 |
| Womencount PAC | $2,500 |
| Maine Victory Fund 2026 | $2,500 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelante Fund | PAC | Los Angeles, CA | Sept. 30, 2025 | $79,746 |
| Adelante Fund | PAC | Los Angeles, CA | Oct. 31, 2025 | $74,979 |
| Adelante Fund | PAC | Los Angeles, CA | June 30, 2026 | $60,837 |
| Adelante Fund | PAC | Los Angeles, CA | March 27, 2025 | $29,556 |
| Gallego Lujan Padilla Victory Fund | Committee | Washington, DC | June 30, 2026 | $5,100 |
| The Home Depot INC. Political Action Committee | PAC | Washington, DC | Aug. 5, 2026 | $5,000 |
| The Capital Group Companies INC PAC | PAC | Los Angeles, CA | Aug. 27, 2026 | $5,000 |
| The Boeing Company PAC | PAC | Arlington, VA | Aug. 5, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Comcast Corporation & Nbcuniversal Political Action Committee - Federal | PAC | Philadelphia, PA | Aug. 14, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians | Organization | Temecula, CA | Aug. 19, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Microsoft Corporation Stakeholders Voluntary PAC | PAC | Redmond, WA | July 8, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Honeywell International Political Action Committee | PAC | Washington, DC | July 1, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Deloitte Political Action Committee | PAC | Washington, DC | July 8, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Border Health Federal PAC | PAC | McAllen, TX | July 9, 2026 | $5,000 |
| At&t INC. Employee Federal Political Action Committee (At&t Employee Federal PAC) | PAC | Dallas, TX | July 9, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation | Organization | El Cajon, CA | July 9, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Simons, NatInvestor, Meritage Group LP | Person | Berkeley, CA | July 6, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Poarch Band of Creek Indians | Organization | Atmore, AL | July 1, 2026 | $5,000 |
| Morongo Band of Mission Indians | Organization | Banning, CA | July 1, 2026 | $5,000 |