Category Archives: campaign finance

“Congress gets new spending loophole”

March 31, 2022, 7:29 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Lachlan Markay for Axios: The big picture: Whether or not Ros-Lehtinen’s spending constituted personal use, the FEC’s failure to move forward with an investigation effectively cements a standard that, good government groups warn, opens a huge campaign finance loophole.… Continue reading

Federal District Court Denies Preliminary Injunction in Wisconsin Campaign Finance Disclosure Case

March 28, 2022, 6:44 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

From the opinion: In sum, while the First Amendment interests of WFA and its donors at stake in this case are substantial, WFA has failed to make a showing that it would suffer irreparable harm if its motion for… Continue reading

“Sen. Mitch McConnell has made it his personal mission to keep the dark money spigot open; The GOP’s hypocrisy on donor transparency has been on full display since President Biden announced Ketanji Brown Jackson as his Supreme Court justice nominee.”

March 27, 2022, 7:12 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Brendan Fischer NBC News oped.

Some recent law student scholarship on election law

March 26, 2022, 6:12 amabsentee ballots, campaign finance, redistrictingDerek Muller

This weekend, I’ll blog about some recent election law scholarship. I thought I’d start by highlighting a few student notes that caught my eye in recent weeks: Kyle Apple (Iowa), Gerrymandering the Presidency: Why Federal District Popular Voting Presents a … Continue reading

“GOP Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Found Guilty in Campaign Finance Case”

March 25, 2022, 6:43 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislaturesDerek Muller

Deanna Paul in the Wall Street Journal: A federal jury in Los Angeles on Thursday found Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry guilty of lying to federal investigators in a bid to conceal illegal campaign contributions he received during a 2016… Continue reading

“Abrams files lawsuit to use fundraising law meant to aid Kemp”

March 23, 2022, 8:59 amcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking court approval to use a law that gives Republican Gov. Brian Kemp a massive fundraising advantage in his reelection bid this year.The challenge asks the court… Continue reading

Federal judge finds Wyoming’s campaign disclosure and disclaimer requirements violate First Amendment

March 22, 2022, 8:36 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

Order granting in part motion for summary judgment by a Wyoming federal district court in Wyoming Gun Owners v. Buchanon, a case building on Americans for Prosperity v. Bonta (and as applied to the plaintiffs in this case): WyGO… Continue reading

“Ted Cruz’s Latest Troll? Turning His Campaign Into a Super PAC”

March 22, 2022, 8:36 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

Daily Beast investigation: Federal law says candidates can only give other candidates $2,000 per election. But Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)—in classic Cruz fashion—may have found a loophole.Last month, Cruz poured a staggering $137,183 into the House campaign for Cassy Garcia,… Continue reading

“Philadelphia judge turned Congressional candidate who accepted rival’s cash suspended”

March 21, 2022, 5:59 pmcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

Reuters: A former Philadelphia municipal judge who accepted $90,000 from another candidate to abandon his congressional campaign has been hit with a four-year suspension by Pennsylvania’s high court, according to a new order.The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday… Continue reading

“GOP Dark Money Criticisms in Supreme Court Fight Mirror Democrats”

March 18, 2022, 6:55 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bloomberg Law: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) brought poster boards to Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s 2020 confirmation hearing highlighting the interconnections among conservative groups like the Judicial Crisis Network and the Federalist Society.Now, Republicans have a chance to turn… Continue reading

“Democratic Group Says Trump Is Breaking Campaign Law by Not Declaring for 2024”

March 15, 2022, 7:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Alaska campaign finance commission erases all limits on donations to political candidates”

March 4, 2022, 8:15 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Anchorage Daily News: The commission charged with enforcing Alaska’s campaign finance laws has lifted all limits on donations to candidates for governor, state legislative seats and municipal races — a decision that could allow a huge wave of cash… Continue reading

“The Federal Election Commission let Trump off the hook for allegedly using $2.8 million in charitable donations to veterans for political purposes”

February 24, 2022, 1:53 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Insider: The Federal Election Commission is letting former President Donald Trump off the hook even after the body’s legal counsel said he violated federal campaign finance laws with a fundraiser for Iowa veterans in 2016, according to documents … Continue reading

“These companies stopped campaign donations to election objectors. Their lobbyists did not.”

February 15, 2022, 6:45 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Politico: In the weeks following last year’s riot at the U.S. Capitol, Amazon suspended all campaign donations to the 147 Republicans who objected to certifying the election that day, calling their behavior “unacceptable.”Six months later, Amazon lobbyists began doling… Continue reading