'Don't let out-of-state money buy your vote,' says GOP ad funded by out-of-state group

The money for these ads flows through an out-of-state group and ultimately comes from a number of large corporate interests, funneled through layers of political committees.

The groups are working in a number of states, and this year's state legislative races are particularly important because whichever party controls the General Assembly – or other state legislatures – will control the once-a-decade redistricting process that draws lines for congressional and legislative voting districts.

Dark money group targets six NC Senate races

The North Carolina money flows through the Good Government Coalition, a 527 group under U.S. tax law with a business address at a UPS store in Springfield, Va., which is in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. The group's custodian of records is a consultant named Matthew Walter, based out of Bethesda, Md.

Good Government put at least $2.25 million into North Carolina politics this year by donating to a group called Citizens for a Better North Carolina. That total may be much higher, though, because the last required records filing with the State Board of Elections covered only up until June 30, and the next quarterly filing isn't due until Oct. 27, a week before Election Day.

None of the groups involved would provide more up-to-date information or reveal donors not already listed on publicly available filings.

Citizens for a Better North Carolina turned around and donated at least $1.2 million to Citizens for a Better NC House and $1.25 million to Citizens for a Better NC Senate. Those two groups spent more than $6 million on television ads this cycle, according to Federal Communications Commission records documenting the buys, including the ad that closes with "don't let out-of-state money buy your vote."

These groups are also funding direct-mail campaigns managed by Martin & Blaine, a North Carolina consulting group run by Jim Blaine and Ray Martin, former staffers for Republican Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger.

Berger, along with House Speaker Tim Moore, is on the board for GOPAC. Both men have also been in leadership at the Republican State Leadership Committee.

Fundraising 101: Breaking down the millions in NC politics

Citizens for a Better North Carolina's treasurer is Glenn Barnes. He hung up when WRAL News called and asked about the group's structure and its relationship to Good Government Coalition, which had provided most of the group's funding as of the last state filing.

"I ain’t got nothing to say, dude," he said. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

The line then went dead. Barnes texted the next day, apologized and indicated that he thought he was talking to a salesperson, despite having been told it was a reporter seeking information about the group's funding sources.

Barnes then said he doesn't know who funds the Good Government Coalition.