Category Archives: campaign finance

Justice Souter Fought to Avoid Applying “Exacting Scrutiny” to Contribution Limits in McConnell Case

May 10, 2023, 7:40 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Jimmy Hoover for the National Law Journal, examining the Stevens papers: Among the many insights from Stevens’ papers are the once-private internal court memos in which justices offer suggestions or critiques of each other’s draft opinions in particular cases. The… Continue reading

“DeSantis takes major step ahead of expected presidential bid”

May 9, 2023, 10:13 amcampaign finance2024 Primary Election CycleTabatha Abu El-Haj

Politico explains how a seemingly obscure move–severing ties to Friends of Ron DeSantis– is key to the viability of a presidential bid in 2024. Differences between Florida’s permissive campaign finance laws and the laws governing federal campaigns mean that DeSantis… Continue reading

“In Trump Case, Bragg Pursues a Common Charge With a Rarely Used Strategy”

May 7, 2023, 4:45 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

The NYT works through the details of a falsifying business records charge and – despite the fact that there’s apparently no legal requirement to do so – the rarity of not making clear the underlying crime to convert the misdemeanor… Continue reading

“Small donations equals big trend: Experts anticipate small donors to play large role in 2024 election”

May 7, 2023, 4:41 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Republic, out of Columbus, Indiana, really nicely connects a national trend to local giving practices.

“A government fund nobody uses just grew by another $4.7 million — here’s why”

May 6, 2023, 8:32 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Raw Story on the Presidential Election Campaign Fund: that $3 checkbox on your tax form.

Minnesota Governor signs “Democracy for the People” law

May 5, 2023, 9:51 amcampaign finance, election administration, election subversion risk, voter registrationJustin Levitt

The bill, signed Friday morning, includes (among other provisions) opt-out voter registration, pre-registration for 16- and 17-year olds, expanded language access, protections against interfering with the election process, and prohibitions against spending in state races by corporations in which… Continue reading

“Bipartisan election bills address worker safety, poll closures, campaign finance and more”

May 5, 2023, 9:50 amcampaign finance, election administration, election law bizJustin Levitt

One of the pieces of the “and more” finding some initial bipartisan support in Wisconsin: Kenosha News notes a welcome provision to let the state pick up the tab for special elections for state offices. Local elections departments need all… Continue reading

Two election-related state budget stories

May 5, 2023, 9:45 amcampaign finance, fraudulent fraud squadJustin Levitt

In New York, the new public financing system (with a 6-1 match for small local contributions) gets some cash. And in Florida, DeSantis’s election investigations office gets a 20% increase (though not the 280% increase DeSantis requested).

“Emails Reveal ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Herschel Walker Money Scandal”

May 3, 2023, 11:54 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

New from the Daily Beast: Emails show Herschel Walker solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars for his own business from a billionaire donor, with the donor believing he was giving to Walker’s campaign. and In the best possible circumstances,… Continue reading

“Trump Vows to Empower Political Pastors on Christian Nationalist Broadcast”

May 3, 2023, 4:04 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawJustin Levitt

Rolling Stone cites the former President’s plans on the Johnson Amendment: “We never enforced it. We essentially ended it. I wasn’t able to finish it. But I’ll finish it this time.” The Johnson Amendment prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits, contributions to which… Continue reading

“Pritzker Calls for Campaign Finance Reform After Spending $323m on Campaigns”

May 2, 2023, 4:02 pmcampaign finance, judicial electionsJustin Levitt

This piece from Illinois Policy points out, among other things, that Illinois law prohibits any “single person” from donating more than $500K to a single campaign … and that both Pritzker’s campaign committee and his revocable trust donated the… Continue reading

“Florida commission slaps down Trump PAC’s ethics complaint against DeSantis”

May 1, 2023, 7:37 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, ethics investigationsJustin Levitt

Fox notes the Florida Ethics Commission decision that MAGA Inc. hadn’t sufficiently alleged the violation of Florida law in DeSantis’s will-he-or-won’t-he activities.

“How Ron DeSantis Could Unlock $86 Million for a Presidential Run”

May 1, 2023, 7:35 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The WSJ reviews potential efforts for DeSantis to transfer the reserves in his state campaign fund to a federal Super PAC supporting his not-quite-announced-just-yet presidential bid.

“Prosecutors in Jan. 6 Case Step up Inquiry Into Trump Fund-Raising”

April 29, 2023, 5:59 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

NYT: As they investigate former President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, federal prosecutors have also been drilling down on whether Mr. Trump and a range of political aides knew that he had lost the race but… Continue reading