Category Archives: campaign finance

“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

“Democrats Decried Dark Money. Then They Won With It in 2020.”

January 29, 2022, 11:07 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: Spurred by opposition to then-President Trump, donors and operatives allied with the Democratic Party embraced dark money with fresh zeal, pulling even with and, by some measures, surpassing Republicans in 2020 spending, according to a New York Times… Continue reading

Justice Breyer’s Most Significant Election Law Opinion

January 26, 2022, 10:40 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

With Justice Stephen Breyer’s upcoming retirement from the Supreme Court, it seems appropriate to offer some words about his legacy in the area of election law. Here is an initial post, and I suspect other ELB contributors will weigh in.… Continue reading

“Former Pa. Treasurer Barbara Hafer’s PAC collected $2.3 million from investments, paid daughter $500K since she left office”

January 26, 2022, 6:41 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Nice work if you can get it dep’t: In the 17 years since Barbara Hafer served in elected office, she’s all but disappeared from Pennsylvania politics.A Republican elected four times to statewide office, she was never again on a ballot… Continue reading

“Supreme Court Seems Ready to Back Ted Cruz in Campaign Finance Case”

January 20, 2022, 10:08 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Adam Liptak for the NYT: The Supreme Court seemed ready on Wednesday to side with a challenge to a federal campaign finance law brought by Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, in what would be the latest in a… Continue reading

Federal District Court, Reconsidering Earlier Order, Dismisses Complaint that FEC Failed to Go After Jeb Bush for Illegally Coordinating with His Super PAC

December 31, 2021, 12:00 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

The court has held that the Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 did not have standing to bring the complaint. The court’s earlier opinion explained the stakes: While Jeb Bush’s unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign may seem like a footnote in… Continue reading