Category Archives: campaign finance

Brad Smith’s Testimony on Trump Hush Money Case

July 14, 2024, 6:26 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Brad’s testimony to the House Judiciary Committee is definitely worth reading, for those interested in a deep dive into the alleged federal campaign finance violations supporting the felony conviction of former President Trump. Brad explains why he thinks the jury… Continue reading

“Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country”

July 14, 2024, 6:00 amcampaign finance, voter registrationDan Tokaji

From ProPublica: A network of ultrawealthy Christian donors is spending nearly $12 million to mobilize Republican-leaning voters and purge more than a million people from the rolls in key swing states, aiming to tilt the 2024 election in favor… Continue reading

“Donors to Pro-Biden Super PAC Are Said to Withhold Roughly $90 Million”

July 13, 2024, 5:42 amcampaign finance, political partiesDan Tokaji

NYT : Some major Democratic donors have told the largest pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, that pledges worth roughly $90 million are now on hold if President Biden remains atop the ticket, according to two people who have been briefed… Continue reading

“The NYC mayor fundraised for a New York PAC. Now money is going out of state.”

July 11, 2024, 4:54 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Politico: A PAC run by a close ally of Mayor Eric Adams, which raised more than $1 million from people who support him, is making some curious out-of-state expenditures. Al Cockfield’s Striving for a Better New York says on… Continue reading

“If Biden Drops Out, What Happens to His Money?”

July 9, 2024, 12:45 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

NYT: [T]he most important money is in the accounts held by the Biden-Harris campaign committee: $91 million as of May 30. . . . That money has been raised by the Biden-Harris ticket, and belongs to the Biden-Harris ticket.… Continue reading

DC Circuit finds FEC improperly dismissed complaint that alleged coordination between Clinton, PAC in 2016

July 9, 2024, 8:57 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

Campaign Legal Center v. FEC, opinion by Judge Pillard, joined by Judges Childs and Edwards: Leaning heavily on that internet exemption, political action committee Correct the Record set out to engage in a wide range of coordinated activities to… Continue reading

“Biden Has 100 Million Reasons to Stay In”

July 9, 2024, 4:33 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Charlie Spies in WSJ Opinion: “Campaign finance rules create an incentive for Mr. Biden to stay in the race through the Democratic National Convention in August. At that point, but not before, Mr. Biden would be able to transfer… Continue reading

“House Democrat joins donor discussion about replacing Biden on ballot”

July 9, 2024, 4:20 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Washington Post: Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) joined a Zoom call Sunday with more than 100 wealthy Democratic donors for a legal briefing about the process for replacing President Biden on the ballot, according to multiple people who joined the… Continue reading

11th Circuit finds Younger abstention applies to Georgia campaign finance dispute

July 8, 2024, 11:38 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

From New Georgia Project, Inc. v. Attorney General, an opinion by Judge Newsom, joined by Judges Rosenbaum and Marcus (some light revisions): In this appeal from the grant of a preliminary injunction, we are asked to decide whether two… Continue reading

“Top House Dem super PAC raised $51M in past three months”

July 8, 2024, 4:48 amcampaign finance, political partiesDan Tokaji

Politico: House Majority PAC, the super PAC affiliated with the chamber’s Democratic leadership, and House Majority Forward, an associated nonprofit group, raised a combined $51 million in the second quarter of 2024. That total is more than double what the… Continue reading

Second Circuit Unanimously Upholds New York Law Giving Recognized Political Parties Advantages under State Campaign Finance Laws

July 7, 2024, 1:59 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Read Upstate Jobs Party v. Kosinski, relying in part on the larger potential for corruption of independent groups that are not recognized political parties (via Richard Winger, who finds this decision objectionable in discriminating against unqualified political parties).

Democratic, Republican fundraising for election litigation hits $70 million in 15 months of 2023-24 election cycle, up from $45 million in 2020 (but down from $101 million in 2022)

July 5, 2024, 6:35 amcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

Continuing my occasional look at fundraising earmarked for election litigation, the first 15 months of this election cycle show more than $70 million fundraised earmarked for election litigation. That’s an increase from four years ago when it was nearly… Continue reading

“Major Democratic Donors Devise Plans to Pressure Biden to Step Aside”

July 4, 2024, 4:03 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: After several days of quiet griping and hoping that President Biden would abandon his re-election campaign on his own, many wealthy Democratic donors are trying to take matters into their own hands. Wielding their fortunes as both carrot and… Continue reading