Category Archives: campaign finance

“Court reopens door to ‘dark money’ in Arizona political races”

October 1, 2020, 10:05 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Tuscon.com: The Arizona Court of Appeals has reinstated a 2017 law that opens the door to “dark money” contributions to political races.The judges said Tuesday that the Republican-controlled Legislature was within its rights to decide that any group the… Continue reading

“Record $13 Billion Raised for 2020 Elections Spurs Ad Avalanche”

September 30, 2020, 11:28 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Bloomberg Government: The 2020 election has generated a record $13.3 billion in federal campaign contributions, funding a barrage of political advertising that strategists say risks blurring candidate messaging.The unprecedented outpouring of campaign cash raised through Sept. 28 is more than… Continue reading

Wisconsin GOP tries to stop Racing Sausages from promoting civic participation

September 30, 2020, 11:21 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Wisconsin GOP sent a letter yesterday claiming that it would be improper “electioneering” and/or vote buying for MLB and the Brewers’ Racing Sausages to encourage early voting. The legal citations in the letter seem … off. The assertions with… Continue reading

“Facebook allowed hundreds of misleading super PAC ads, activist group finds”

September 24, 2020, 7:39 amcampaign finance, campaigns, cheap speechRick Hasen

CNN: Facebook (FB) has allowed political advertisers to target hundreds of misleading ads about Joe Biden and the US Postal Service to swing-state voters ranging from Florida to Wisconsin in recent weeks, in an apparent failure to… Continue reading

“Streaming Services Are A ‘Wild West’ For Political Ads, Mozilla Finds”

September 23, 2020, 7:42 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Video Insider: Political ads have followed consumers to popular streaming services. But unlike traditional TV broadcasters, streamers are not required to disclose how ads are targeted or who is viewing them. And while social media platforms have begun to… Continue reading

“Biden Has $466 Million in Bank, and a Huge Financial Edge on Trump”

September 20, 2020, 8:56 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Shane Goldmacher for the NYT: Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s campaign said on Sunday that it entered September with $466 million in the bank together with the Democratic Party, providing Mr. Biden a vast financial advantage of about $141 million… Continue reading

“Cash-strapped Trump campaign awaits a bailout from big donors”

September 17, 2020, 8:23 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: Republican Party megadonors are racing to bail out President Donald Trump’s cash-strapped reelection campaign, with a newly formed super PAC pouring a further$25 million into battleground states.Preserve America is set to begin running a trio of TV commercials savaging… Continue reading

“New Tool to Analyze Political Advertising on Facebook Reveals Massive Discrepancies in Party Spending on Presidential Contest”

September 16, 2020, 5:54 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, cheap speechRick Hasen

NYU: Transparency in political ads is vital to ensuring safe and fair elections, but transparency is difficult if advertisers are not required to disclose details about targeting and sources of funding. While TV broadcasters must disclose information about political… Continue reading

“Sheldon Adelson is plotting a spending spree to help Trump with under 50 days left until the election”

September 16, 2020, 7:23 amcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

CNBC: Casino magnate and Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson is plotting a spending blitz to support President Donald Trump with just under 50 days to go until Election Day, CNBC has learned. Adelson, CEO of Las Vegas Sands, is looking… Continue reading

“Democrats used to rail against ‘dark money.’ Now they’re better at it than the GOP.”

September 14, 2020, 8:26 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

NBC News: When allies of former President Barack Obama set up a super PAC to support his 2012 re-election, the White House disowned the group, The New York Times published a scathing editorial and former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold… Continue reading

“Bloomberg Says He’ll Spend $100 Million in Florida to Help Biden”

September 14, 2020, 8:01 amcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

NYT: Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and presidential candidate, announced Sunday that he planned to spend $100 million in Florida in the coming weeks to support Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s presidential candidacy.The pledge came as … Continue reading

“Trump reports raising $210 million last month, lagging behind Biden’s record-breaking August haul”

September 9, 2020, 8:01 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: President Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee and two affiliated fundraising committees on Wednesday announced raising $210 million in August — a sizable sum that still lags behind Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s record-breaking haul last month.The RNC said… Continue reading

“Trump deploys YouTube as his secret weapon in 2020”

September 9, 2020, 9:33 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: Most campaigns merely post their television spots on the site. Trump’s YouTube channel, however, is a voluminous and unique collection of news, campaign ads and original web shows. Negative ads like “Don’t let them ruin America” are paired with… Continue reading

APSA Campaign Finance Panel

September 8, 2020, 7:31 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Over the next few days I will blog some of the panels likely to be of interest to ELB readers. Here’s the first: Author Meets Critics panel Sponsor: Campaign Finance Research GroupSubject: “A Neo-Madisonian Perspective on Campaign Finance Reform, Institutions, Pluralism,… Continue reading