Category Archives: campaign finance

Sixth Circuit affirms convictions for unlawful contributions to Kentucky candidate for U.S. Senate

August 9, 2021, 1:44 pmcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

The opinion in United States v. Emmons is here. Alison Lundergan Grimes from Kentucky challenged Mitch McConnell in 2014 for a U.S. Senate seat. Her father (who ran a closely-held business) and a family friend were found guilty of… Continue reading

“Reducing Election Litigation”

August 9, 2021, 5:59 amcampaign finance, guest blogging election law scholarshipDerek Muller

I have this draft on SSRN of a piece coming out in the Fordham Law Review as a part of its recent election law symposium. It’s a small effort to think about election litigation and how it might be reduced.… Continue reading

“Trump’s Repeating Donation Tactics Led to Millions in Refunds Into 2021”

August 8, 2021, 2:03 pmcampaign financeDerek Muller

New York Times: The aggressive fund-raising tactics that former President Donald J. Trump deployed late in last year’s presidential campaign have continued to spur an avalanche of refunds into 2021, with Mr. Trump, the Republican Party and their shared… Continue reading

Ninth Circuit finds that some Alaska campaign finance rules violate First Amendment

August 2, 2021, 4:37 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtDerek Muller

Thanks, Ned, for your terrific insight over the last couple of weeks. And thanks once again, Rick, for this opportunity to join ELB as a contributor, including picking up daily blogging duty for the next couple of weeks. Late last… Continue reading

A tell from Trump’s money?

July 22, 2021, 12:16 pmcampaign financeNed Foley

This Washington Post story, on Trump’s PAC not spending for the pseudo-audits of the 2020 election, suggests instead that he’s saving the funds for a 2024 run, or perhaps to dole out in the midterms. The most interesting nugget,… Continue reading

“Complaint alleges group funneled data from RNC to lawmakers”

July 20, 2021, 3:50 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawNed Foley

AP reports on new filing with the IRS. [corrected link]

Ellen Aprill Expresses Concern …

July 19, 2021, 7:45 amcampaign finance, Supreme Court, tax law and election lawNed Foley

… on the implications of the Supreme Court’s new Americans for Prosperity Foundation for IRS rules on donor disclosure applicable to 501(c)(3) groups. Her Tax Notes letter to the editor is also available on SSRN.

“5 takeaways from the new House and Senate fundraising reports”

July 17, 2021, 6:10 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

From WaPo. From the first takeaway on the hauls of pro-Trump and anti-Trump Republicans facing off in primaries: Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who has emerged as perhaps the most passionate Trump critic …. raised a whopping $1.9 million.… Continue reading

“American Airlines, other companies resume donations to Republicans who objected to election results”

July 15, 2021, 4:41 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

WaPo: According to a June report from the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, more than $5 million in corporate or industry money has already gone to lawmakers who contested the election results or to aligned party… Continue reading

“How corporations give Republicans a massive financial advantage in state politics”

July 15, 2021, 8:40 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

Popular Information on CPA’s report Conflicted Consequences: “Over the last decade, public corporations have given Republicans at the state level a financial advantage that exceeds $200 million, according to new research provided exclusively to Popular Information by the Center… Continue reading

“Activist Shareholders Score Wins on Election Spending After Riot”

July 15, 2021, 4:32 amcampaign finance, election subversion riskDan Tokaji

Bloomberg: Like Duke Energy, shareholders at Netflix Inc., United Airlines Holdings Inc., and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and others have endorsed political spending disclosures in the sixth months since the riot, according to Bloomberg’s Proxy Tracker. The Netflix proposal… Continue reading

“The Supreme Court Moves the Goalposts on Donor Transparency”

July 13, 2021, 12:56 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy: “This is not a campaign finance case, but opponents of political transparency will likely try to use it to foreclose efforts to counter the dark money problem in campaign finance. Whether they will succeed is another question.”

“Few companies stick with pledge to shut off funding for GOP objectors”

July 9, 2021, 4:46 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

The Hill: Among the 10 biggest corporate PAC donors that pledged to pause their contributions to election objectors, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Verizon have followed through on their promises, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings.Other top… Continue reading

“Four States Start Inquiries Into Recurring Donation Tactics of Both Parties”

July 9, 2021, 9:05 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

NYT: Four state attorneys general have begun looking into the online fund-raising practices of both political parties, specifically seeking information about the use of prechecked boxes to enroll contributors in recurring donation programs that spurred a wave of fraud… Continue reading