Category Archives: campaign finance

“People Are Paying Millions to Dine With Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago”

March 4, 2025, 11:00 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Wired: Guests are paying millions of dollars to dine and meet with President Donald Trump at special events held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Business leaders can secure a one-on-one meeting with the president at Mar-a-Lago for… Continue reading

“Wisconsin Supreme Court race puts Trump and Musk at center stage”

March 3, 2025, 7:21 amcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Patrick Marley for WaPo: President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk’s policies will get their first major test at the ballot box this spring in an election that will determine who controls the Wisconsin Supreme Court and shape the future… Continue reading

DOJ Gets Another Extension to Respond to Cert Petition in NRSC Campaign Finance Case–Making It More Likely We Don’t See a Decision for Another Year Plus If SCOTUS Takes Case

March 1, 2025, 5:11 pmcampaign finance, political partiesRick Hasen

The latest extension goes through April 9. My earlier coverage is here and here.

“The case of the missing $3M: Eric Adams’ campaign finance woes grow”

February 27, 2025, 9:04 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Politico:A mysterious $3 million sitting in Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection account is the latest irregularity giving campaign finance officials cause to deny him crucial public matching funds. The Campaign Finance Board broadened the criteria it used to deny Adams… Continue reading

“In Crucial Judicial Race in Wisconsin, G.O.P. Now Has a Financial Edge”

February 26, 2025, 7:46 amcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

NYT: The last time Wisconsin held an election for the state’s Supreme Court, Republicans cried foul over the wave of money from out-of-state Democrats that overwhelmed their candidate. Two years later, Republicans have learned their lesson. It is Democrats who… Continue reading

“Venting at Democrats and Fearing Trump, Liberal Donors Pull Back Cash”

February 17, 2025, 7:18 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: The demoralization and fear gripping blue America in the early weeks of President Trump’s administration have left liberal groups and their allies struggling for cash, hurting their ability to effectively combat the right-wing transformation of the federal government. The… Continue reading

“Morning Digest: A Georgia Republican says he alone can raise unlimited sums. His rivals have other ideas”

February 17, 2025, 7:02 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Downballot: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones hasn’t yet announced his long-anticipated campaign for governor of Georgia, but he’s already taking advantage of a state law allowing him to raise unlimited sums of money—something none of his would-be rivals can… Continue reading

“The Rise of America’s Broligarchy and What to Do About It”

February 12, 2025, 7:01 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

Larry Norden and Dan Weiner in Time: While the corrupting influence of big money over our government is not new, the specifics of this danger are different today than perhaps at any other time in our nation’s history. Tech billionaires,… Continue reading

Brennan Center: “New York State’s Public Campaign Financing Program Empowers Constituent Small Donors”

February 6, 2025, 11:50 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

New analysis: Candidates relied much more on small donations from constituents. The program has made in-district contributions of $250 or less a central component of fundraising. These donations leaped from less than 5 percent of overall funding in recent… Continue reading

“Elon Musk donated $288 million in 2024 election, final tally shows”

February 1, 2025, 7:19 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

WaPo: Billionaire Elon Musk spent at least $288 million to help elect President Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, according to a Washington Post analysis of new Federal Election Commission filings that offered an end-of-year snapshotof what was spent during… Continue reading

“Campaign Cash Clash” (Interview with me on Marist’s polling podcast)

January 31, 2025, 7:42 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

I spoke with the Marist polling folks for their podcast on campaign finance and the 2024 elections. Listen.

“DOJ moves to drop charges against former GOP lawmaker in case criticized by Trump”

January 30, 2025, 6:48 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Politico: The Justice Department has moved to drop its criminal prosecution of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican who resigned last year after a conviction on charges that he lied to the FBI. Fortenberry’s conviction by a federal jury … Continue reading

“Trump’s White House Press Secretary Reveals Her Failed Campaign Spent $200K in Illicit Contributions”

January 24, 2025, 6:54 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NOTUS: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed in amended campaign filings on Thursday that her unsuccessful 2022 congressional campaign owes more than $300,000 in unpaid debts, with Leavitt failing to disclose for years that her campaign took in… Continue reading

“Blame the Supreme Court for Elon Musk’s Power in Trump Administration”

January 23, 2025, 7:41 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

Brendan Fischer Rolling Stone commentary, with the subhead: “Elon Musk’s outsized influence with the new president is a direct result of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which turns 15 this week.”