Ben Sasse’s defunct Senate campaign gives cash to his old political organization
Ben Sasse’s former Senate campaign committee recently transferred part of its $2.4 million war chest into a little-known political organization he launched seven years ago, new campaign finance records show, signaling the former University of Florida president and Republican Nebraska senator could be eyeing a new way to wield political influence.
The almost $200,000 donation to America 101 marks one of the only major financial transactions Sasse’s campaign committee has made since he left the Senate in early 2023. Sasse started America 101 in 2018, as rumors were swirling about a potential 2020 presidential campaign.
The organization currently has a defunct website, but an archived copy last year gave a sweeping, if vague, description of its goals.
“Our goal is to deliver you stories and content that inspire us to make America a better, stronger, more unified place,” the website said. “At America 101, we believe finding solutions to our 21st century challenges requires getting back to basics.”
The donation from Sasse’s former campaign chest is one of the largest publicly documented sums America 101 has received. The organization had less than $200,000 in 2019, and has received less than $50,000 in donations in recent years, according to tax records.
As a “social welfare” organization under tax laws, America 101 could make unlimited independent expenditures to support or oppose political candidates — unlike Sasse’s formal campaign account.
“It could be that he’s gearing up to play in Florida campaigns or it could be something completely different,” campaign finance lawyer Brett Kappel said. He added that there are few limitations on how an organization like America 101 can use the funds, giving Sasse a wide range of other options to spend the money — like for a legacy project or to give to other nonprofits.
One of the only legal restrictions on the transfer from Sasse’s campaign fund to America 101 is that the organization can’t turn around and put Sasse or his family members on the payroll, according to Kappel.
A person involved with America 101 said the donation was about civics education, not for political purposes. Neither Sasse, nor the Nebraska-based attorney listed as president of America 101 immediately responded to questions from the Miami Herald.
The campaign committee first reported the donation to America 101 as almost $800,000 on Sunday. After the Miami Herald asked about it Monday, Sasse’s campaign committee amended the filing to the Federal Election Commission to now show it as a $193,000 donation instead.
Sasse left the Senate to take charge of the University of Florida in 2023, and resigned just over a year later. He attributed the decision to family health concerns, but donors and key officials say he was forced out after substantially increasing the office’s spending — including on contracts for political allies and bringing on key staff from his days in Washington D.C. — as first reported by the Florida Alligator.
He continues to receive over $1 million salary from the school as part of his termination agreement.