Donations from unions to political candidates will likely be lower this cycle as unions shift their spending to get-out-the-vote efforts and other independent expenditures, according to the Wall Street Journal:
Some union officials suggest that, in addition to donating directly to candidates, they plan to spend significantly on their own voter-mobilization efforts in support of Democrats, though that is hard to verify because this type of spending doesn't have to be disclosed.
In any case, the shift will leave President Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates more dependent on support from new pro-Democratic super PACs—groups that spend money independently of campaigns—which are struggling to raise funds. And if the pattern continues for the rest of the year, outside entities supporting Republicans may for the first time surpass the overall spending by unions and other outside organizations backing Democrats.