“How Trump’s Trade War Is Making Lobbyists Rich and Slamming Small Businesses”
ProPublica on the draining of the swamp.
All posts by Justin Levitt
“Durkan Supports Capping Super PAC Donations and Blocking Amazon from City Elections”
In the wake of substantial spending by Amazon (and others) in 2019 city council elections, Seattle contemplates a Clean Campaigns Act purporting to limit contributions to Super PACs, and to limit spending from corporations with more than 1% ownership from… Continue reading
What to do with campaign funds after retiring or passing away
Two
stories today about campaign funds active longer than their campaigners.
One
focuses on FEC
requests for explanation from retired officeholders still spending from
campaign accounts. The other describes
the plans
that Rep. Cummings had for his unspent campaign money… Continue reading
“Democratic Candidates Together Doubled Trump’s 2020 Fundraising Numbers”
A HuffPost piece on the other side of the odd horserace money count I mentioned last week:
Allies of President Donald Trump gloated last week at the news that his campaign outraised each of the Democratic presidential candidates. But… Continue reading
“The Real Power of Bloomberg’s Money”
A piece in the Atlantic on the governance options available to billionaires:
When people think about the political relevance of Michael Bloomberg’s money, they tend to think about how his massive spending helps his campaigns: the record $261 million he… Continue reading
“The Other Swing Voter”
Ibram Kendi with a thoughtful piece on the terminology of “swing voters”: some “swing” from candidate to candidate or party to party, and some swing between voting and not voting.
“Thirteen Democrats qualify for Washington presidential primary, Trump sole choice for Republicans”
The Seattle Times reviews who’s on and who’s off the Washington State primary ballot. And while the story focuses on the candidates on the ballot who may not still be actively contending by the time March 10 rolls around, the… Continue reading
“Ensuring That People Can Easily Understand the Ballot Measures They’re Voting On”
The lede in Route Fifty:
Legislation introduced by a Maryland lawmaker would set new standards for describing ballot measures in the state, with the aim of ensuring that people can clearly understand the proposals they’re casting votes on.
“Ranked-Choice Voting Could ‘Change the Rules’ of Electoral Politics in Mass.”
WBUR with an explainer on the ranked choice initiative likely to make it to the ballot if the legislature doesn’t adopt something first.
Census hearing on hard-to-count communities at same time as voting systems security hearing
At the same time as the Thursday hearing on voting system security that I’d mentioned, House Oversight will be holding a hearing on “Reaching Hard-to-Count Communities in the 2020 Census.” The witness list is still TBD, as… Continue reading
“Census Bureau Ramps Up Hiring Efforts for 2020 Census”
The Census Bureau has reached most of its hiring goals in Puerto Rico. And almost everywhere else is still looking for help. They’ve even got a map to show you where (and how much they’re paying).
“Florida becomes one of last states to form Census committee”
The AP reports on Florida’s … exceedingly recent efforts to raise census awareness. In this context, I’m not sure whether “it’s never too late” is quite accurate.
“EAC 2020 Elections Summit”
Next Tuesday, Jan. 14th, the EAC will host an summit with officials, experts, and advocates discussing the administration of the 2020 elections – and it’ll be livestreamed for those who can’t make it in person.
“2020 Election Security-Perspectives From Voting System Vendors And Experts”
This Thursday, Congress will hear from three top experts, and three of the primary manufacturers (ES&S, Hart InterCivic, and Dominion Voting Systems), of voting systems. This is apparently the first time the top executives of all three companies have testified… Continue reading