What is redboxing and how it's being used in Lehigh Valley's congressional race
Crosswell’s campaign posted detailed ad guidance online and later made the red-box material publicly available after a complaint.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYThe Morning Call is an established regional newspaper, and the article identifies its reporter and distinguishes its own findings from claims by advocates, campaign finance reports and campaign representatives. The piece provides local reporting, though the article does not directly resolve the legal concerns it describes.
- Source type — Established local newspaper with a regional reporting operation.
- Transparency — The story attributes legal criticism, campaign responses and spending figures to identifiable sources.
- Author attribution — A named reporter is credited.
- Editorial standards — The article presents reporting and attributed claims, but the text provides no specific corrections or standards information.
The article gives concrete examples from campaign websites, attributes the legal critique to the Campaign Legal Center and cites campaign finance reports for spending. It includes campaign responses, but none directly addresses the legality or ethics of redboxing, and the legal analysis is limited.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article explains the legal concern, gives examples from several campaigns and includes campaign responses. However, the campaigns did not directly address redboxing, and the legal criticism is represented by an organization that advocates stricter fundraising limits.
- Counterarguments presented — Campaign representatives offered responses, but did not directly answer questions about the tactic's legal and ethical concerns.
- Source diversity — The article draws on campaign websites, campaign finance reports, an advocacy group and campaign representatives.
- Omitted context — The legal question is described but not examined through a legal expert or a response from the relevant commission.
- Loaded language — The term “loophole” is attributed to legal advocates rather than adopted as the article's own conclusion.
The article explains the tactic and its critics’ concerns in largely factual, attributed language, while also including campaign statements and examples from multiple candidates. It does not endorse a partisan interpretation.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive; critical language about a loophole is attributed to critics.
- Source selection — Includes an advocacy group's criticism, campaign examples and statements from campaign representatives.
- Framing — Frames redboxing as a campaign-finance practice and explains both its mechanics and the concern it raises.
A Morning Call analysis found that three Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania’s 7th District are using “redboxing” to publicly signal preferred campaign messaging to outside groups. The tactic has drawn criticism over campaign finance rules, while the article reports that outside groups have spent more than $500,000 supporting Bob Brooks.
The Morning Call reports that Bob Brooks, Ryan Crosswell and Carol Obando-Derstine have red boxes on their campaign websites, while it found none on Lamont McClure’s site. The boxes publicly give supportive outside groups guidance about messages and formats for ads. The article says independent expenditure groups can raise and spend unlimited amounts but may not directly coordinate ads with campaigns; the Campaign Legal Center argues that redboxing shows anti-coordination laws have done little to prevent close ties between campaigns and outside groups.
The article describes Brooks’ box as promoting his working-class credentials and endorsements, and says campaign finance reports show outside groups have spent more than $500,000 supporting him. Crosswell’s box includes suggested targeting and messaging; after an Allentown resident complained that it had been password-protected, the campaign made it public. Obando-Derstine’s box describes her background and community work. The campaigns did not directly address the tactic when asked; Brooks’ and Crosswell’s managers offered separate statements, and Obando-Derstine’s campaign declined to comment.
Community verdict
10 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →House candidate whose campaign uses a red box with suggested ad targets and messages
House candidate whose campaign uses a red box to suggest messaging to outside groups
Brooks's version of this story ↗House candidate whose campaign uses a red box to suggest messages to outside groups
Obando-Derstine's version of this story ↗
House candidate in a Philadelphia-area race whose website has a red box
President referenced in Crosswell campaign’s suggested messaging
Former senator whose office Obando-Derstine’s campaign cited as part of her work history
Senator whose support Brooks’ campaign suggested highlighting
Former House member who ran against Mackenzie in 2024
House candidate in a Philadelphia-area race whose website has a red box
House candidate whose website did not have a red box located by the newspaper
Republican incumbent whom the Democratic primary winner will challenge
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