DraftKings money is muscling into Cabarrus County’s Republican primary, with outside super PACs footing the bill for mailers, TV spots and text messages aimed at appointed Sen. Chris Measmer. The spending surge has turned a relatively low‑profile contest into one where national gambling industry cash is helping set the storyline ahead this Tuesday.
Money Trail Traced To DraftKings
Federal campaign finance filings show that a committee called Win For America was funded entirely by DK Crown Holdings Inc., the corporate name tied to DraftKings, and that the group then moved money to the American Conservative Fund, which is paying for the Cabarrus ads, according to Popular Information. That chain of transfers is the clearest public evidence so far that national sportsbook money is being funneled into state legislative primaries through allied super PACs.
What The Ads Allege
The American Conservative Fund‑backed pieces label Measmer a RINO, accuse him of supporting a Democrat‑backed candidate and claim he backed tax increases, citing a specific Senate bill and a county budget figure that the mailer places side by side to suggest big spending. The Charlotte Observer reports the attacks have shown up in mailboxes, on television and in campaign text messages across the county. “It would have been irresponsible to vote against the mini‑budget,” Measmer told the paper while defending the vote the ads highlight.
Campaigns Push Back
Kevin Crutchfield’s campaign says it has not coordinated with the outside group and insists it is running a “positive, bridge‑building” effort, while Measmer’s team argues the ad’s framing is misleading and notes that the bill cited in one attack never received a floor vote, according to The Charlotte Observer. Crutchfield told reporters he has “no relationship with American Conservative Fund” and said he has focused on affordability and public safety in his pitch to voters. The two Republicans will square off in the March 3 primary, and the winner will meet Democrat April Cook in November, per WBTV.
Why It Matters
Reporting based on FEC disclosures shows DraftKings and other sportsbooks have poured money into federal and state contests this cycle, and industry watchers say the goal is to blunt regulation and influence policy decisions that affect their bottom line, according to Sportsbook Review. For local voters, that means campaign messaging shaped by national priorities rather than strictly county‑level debates.
The wave of out‑of‑state ad dollars has turned up the volume on an already competitive primary and raised questions about outside influence in Cabarrus elections. Voters will settle the race on Tuesday. Local election information and candidate Q&As are available from county election officials and local outlets such as WBTV.
