Kennedy admits mistake
His campaign inappropriately spent $1.5M during Senate primary
U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III’s campaign said it inappropriately spent $1.5 million in donations meant for the general election during the final weeks of his failed primary bid against U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, the congressman’s campaign confirmed to the Herald on Friday.
Kennedy’s campaign said it self-reported the spending violation to the Federal Election Commission last week. The misuse of campaign funds was first reported by the Boston Globe.
“Shortly after Sept. 1, it came to my attention that our operation had improperly spent general election funds during the final weeks of the primary race,” Kennedy said in a statement provided to the Herald. “After an internal review, I believe it was an honest mistake by those involved, resulting from misinformation, not malintent.”
Members of the campaign mistakenly believed general election money could be spent during the primary as long as it was repaid afterward, according to the Kennedy campaign official. Those officials are no longer with the Kennedy team.
Federal campaign finance rules do not allow candidates to use general election funds on primary costs. The rules also say a candidate who loses a primary must refund general election donations within 60 days.
Kennedy said he takes “full responsibility for the error” and personally reimbursed the campaign $1.5 million of his own money in late September. He also brought on a new treasurer, Keith Lowey, after the improper spending came to light.
“All current obligations to staff, donors, vendors, and creditors have been met. Any remaining campaign expenses this year will be fully paid,” Kennedy said.
The congressman added, “I apologize for — and deeply regret — the error and believe that strict transparency and accountability in campaign finance are the cornerstone of fair elections.”
The surprising disclosure from the Kennedy campaign came on the heels of a bitter primary battle that saw the incumbent, who once trailed in both polling and fundraising, turn the tables on his challenger in both aspects in the final weeks before the Sept. 1 primary en route to a resounding 10-point victory.
It also points to financial woes for the scion of the state’s premier political dynasty, who spent $2.4 million on television ads in the spring while Markey waited and saved. Kennedy’s father, former Congressman Joseph Kennedy II, had also poured $2 million from his old campaign coffers into a super PAC backing his son.