Dealer PAC Support: The Auto Dealer Political Action Committee Network
A political action committee is one of the most direct ways franchised dealers stay part of the policy conversation. Through the dealer PAC network, NADA PAC at the federal level and the state dealer PAC at the state level, dealers pool voluntary, personal contributions to support candidates who understand the franchised-dealer business, regardless of party. NOADA helps Northeast Ohio dealers understand the issues and connect their support to the right level. This page explains what the PAC network is and why it matters. Because campaign-finance rules are strict and change over time, contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 for current, compliant information on how to participate.
PAC support works hand in hand with grassroots advocacy. Contacting your legislators through the Action Center and supporting the dealer PACs are two halves of the same effort: one keeps dealers heard, the other helps keep dealer-friendly lawmakers in a position to listen. For the full picture of what we advocate for, see the advocacy overview.
What a PAC is - in plain terms
A political action committee is a regulated fund that collects voluntary contributions from eligible individuals and distributes them to political candidates and committees. PACs are governed by strict federal and state campaign-finance law, including limits on who may give, how much, and how it is reported.
The dealer PAC is not a slush fund and not corporate money. Federal PACs may not accept corporate funds; they accept personal contributions - personal checks and personal credit cards from eligible individuals. Every contribution is voluntary, and you may decline to give without any consequence to your standing, your membership, or your business.
Why the PAC matters for Northeast Ohio dealers
Franchised dealers are among the most heavily regulated small businesses in any community. Decisions made in Columbus and Washington - on deputy-registrar funding, franchise and direct-sales law, warranty reimbursement, doc fees, and FTC rules - can change a store’s economics overnight. (See the legislative and regulatory pages for the live issues.)
The PAC helps ensure dealers have a seat at that table:
- It supports candidates who get it. Lawmakers who understand how automotive retailing actually works make better-informed decisions on the issues that affect dealers, their employees, and their customers.
- It is bipartisan. NADA PAC - one of the largest and most active trade-association PACs in the country - supports pro-dealer candidates of both political parties. The dealer agenda is about a healthy franchise system and a functioning BMV, not party label.
- It amplifies a local industry. Franchised dealers are major employers and tax generators in Northeast Ohio (see economic impact). The PAC turns that collective weight into a sustained, credible presence.
- It complements your voice, never replaces it. Contributions open the door; your personal contact through the Action Center is what makes the case.
How the dealer PAC structure works
Dealer political giving generally operates on the same federal-state-local stack as the rest of advocacy:
- NADA PAC (federal) supports candidates for U.S. House and Senate who back the franchised-dealer system.
- The state dealer PAC, administered in connection with the state dealer association, supports candidates for the Ohio legislature and statewide office.
- NOADA (local) helps Northeast Ohio dealers understand the issues and connect their support to the right level. For current, compliant details, contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011.
Because trade-association PAC solicitation is tightly regulated, a trade association must obtain a member company’s prior written approval before it can solicit that company’s executives and administrative personnel, a federal rule NOADA and its partners follow carefully.
How to participate
Supporting the dealer PACs is voluntary, personal, and governed by strict campaign-finance rules. In general:
- PAC contributions come from individuals (for example, dealer principals, executives, and eligible personnel) using personal funds, not from a dealership’s corporate account.
- The PAC’s strength comes from broad participation, not a few large gifts.
- Contributions are reported as required by campaign-finance law.
Because the eligible entities, contribution limits, forms, and required disclaimer language are set by law and change over time, NOADA does not publish those specifics here. To participate in a compliant way through NADA PAC or the state dealer PAC, contact NOADA at (330) 272-9011 and we will point you to the official, current information.
Compliance note. Contributions to a political action committee are not tax-deductible. All contributions are voluntary; you have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal, and any guideline amount is only a suggestion. Federal law requires PACs to use their best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed the reporting threshold. Corporate contributions to federal PACs are prohibited.
Frequently asked questions
Is contributing to the PAC required to be a NOADA member? No. PAC contributions are entirely voluntary and separate from membership. You can be a full member and never contribute, and that has no effect on your benefits or standing.
Can my dealership write a corporate check to the PAC? No. Federal PACs accept only personal contributions from eligible individuals, not corporate funds. Confirm the rules for any state PAC with the administrator before giving.
Is the dealer PAC partisan? No. NADA PAC and the dealer PAC network support pro-dealer candidates of both parties based on their record on dealer and automotive-retail issues.
Are PAC contributions tax-deductible? No. Contributions to a political action committee are not deductible as charitable contributions or business expenses.
How is my contribution used? To support the campaigns of candidates who back a healthy franchised-dealer system and the local services dealers and their customers depend on - coordinated across the federal and state levels.
Where does the money to my legislators come from - the association dues? No. Membership dues fund the association’s services and advocacy operations. Candidate contributions come only from the separate, voluntary PAC, funded by personal contributions.
Get involved
- Call NOADA at (330) 272-9011 - for current, compliant ways to support NADA PAC and the state dealer PAC
- Contact your legislators - pair your support with your voice
- Read the advocacy priorities - see what dealer PACs support
- Join NOADA - add your store to the regional voice