Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has created We the People 250 Action Fund, a “dark money” political organization that will advocate for normalcy, decency and compassion, as well as strive “for a nation where the corrosive influence of Donald Trump is overcome.”
Ryan, a Democrat who represented the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House for two decades, announced the creation of the organization Wednesday.
“Our goal is to move forward and heal America,” Ryan said. “We the People is going to tell stories of people, communities and ideas that capture elements of the American spirit: innovation, freedom and kindness. We will also call out the lies spewed by the MAGA movement because truth is a foundation that we cannot let crumble.”
MAGA is an acronym for Make America Great Again, a polarizing phrase that was popularized during the 2016 presidential campaign of Trump, a Republican. Trump, who lost a 2020 re-election bid, is running again for president next year and is considered the Republican frontrunner.
In one of two videos Ryan released Wednesday on the fund’s website, he said: “We the People believe in the power of unity and we refuse to succumb to the divisive rhetoric and partisan battles that plague our society.”
The website states: “Our organization is resolute in dismantling the harmful influences of the MAGA movement, which have hindered unity and caused social divisions. We are committed to exposing and addressing the detrimental impact it has on our society, institutions and values.”
During his failed 2022 U.S. Senate bid against Republican J.D. Vance, Ryan was careful to not criticize Trump. The former president campaigned for Vance, including a September rally in Youngstown at which Trump said he didn’t like Ryan and “he has been terrible.”
Repeating a term from his 2022 campaign, Ryan said Wednesday he wants to “empower the exhausted majority.”
Ryan sold his Howland house two weeks ago and moved to Dublin, a Columbus suburb, saying it was to be better located for his new job as chief global business development officer for Zoetic Global.
We the People is a 501(c)(4) organization under the tax code. Such organizations may engage in an unlimited amount of lobbying and political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to candidates as long as it isn’t the primary activity, according to the IRS. At least 50.1 percent of such an organization must go toward “social welfare” activities.
Such organizations can spend money on campaigns and are under no legal obligation to disclose their donors. They’re commonly referred to as “dark money” groups as they can collect unlimited money while providing who contributes only to the IRS and not the public.
Regarding a return to politics, Ryan said last week: “Maybe someday, but I’m not going back to politics any time soon.”
In a Wednesday video, Ryan said, “I promised you that I would stay in the fight. We are at a critical time in our nation’s history. We see division, anger, a broken political system that has lost sight of the American spirit. But despite all of that, I’m filled with hope and determination.”
