Category Archives: campaign finance

“Why Trump’s Conviction Can’t Stand; It rests on an intent to violate a state law that is pre-empted by the Federal Election Campaign Act.”

September 9, 2024, 7:44 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

David Rivkin and Elizabeth Price Foley WSJ oped: Mr. Trump was indicted under New York’s law prohibiting falsification of business records, which is a felony only if the accused intended “to commit another crime” via the false record. Judge… Continue reading

“A Deeper Look at the Scope, Impact, and Risks of Company Political Spending”

September 9, 2024, 7:42 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bruce Freed and Jeanne Hanna: What exactly is the scope and impact of corporate political spending? Much has been written about the risks – legal, reputational and bottom line – faced by companies engaging in this spending. But it… Continue reading

En Banc Sixth Circuit Rejects Challenge to Federal Campaign Finance Rules Limiting Coordinated Spending Between Candidates and Parties, with Strong Hint SCOTUS Will Strike the Limits Down

September 5, 2024, 5:16 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have been waiting for this issue to get back to the Supreme Court for a while, and this is just the vehicle that could get it there. I don’t expect the Court, if it considers the issue, to uphold… Continue reading

“Despite protestations, prosecution of Donald Trump for violating federal election law well-grounded: Mark R. Brown”

September 4, 2024, 9:16 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cleveland.com oped: [Brad] Smith’s points are misleading, confusing and often incorrect. The FECA places limits ($2,700 in 2016) on how much individuals may legally contribute to federal campaigns, and Cohen’s payment of $130,000 to Daniels plainly exceeded this limit.… Continue reading

“Federal judge blocks enforcement of new Ohio ban on noncitizen contributions to ballot issue campaigns”

September 2, 2024, 7:50 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cleveland.com: A federal judge on Saturday blocked key portions of Ohio’s new law restricting lawful permanent residents, visa-holders and others from contributing to statewide ballot issue campaigns. The injunction came one day before the law was to take effect…. Ohio’s … Continue reading

“Republican Donors, Do You Know Where Your Money Goes”

August 28, 2024, 10:12 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Juleanna Glover NYT oped: We long ago blew past any meaningful controls on political giving in American elections. Now we should focus on the rules governing political spending, which are in equally terrible shape. For that we can blame the… Continue reading

“Meet the megadonors pumping millions into the 2024 election”

August 26, 2024, 8:39 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

WaPo: The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.5 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the election, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data. The vast majority of money from top… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Bob Bauer: “Law and Ethics in the Domain of Campaign Finance”

August 26, 2024, 7:17 amcampaign finance, ELB Book CornerRick Hasen

I’m pleased to welcome Bob Bauer to the ELB Book Corner, writing about his new book, The Unraveling. Here is the second of three guest posts: One chapter of the Unraveling is devoted to my long-standing view that the… Continue reading

“Democrats signal voting rights bills will top the agenda if Harris wins”

August 22, 2024, 7:17 amcampaign finance, election administrationRick Hasen

Patrick Marley deep for WaPo: Democratic leaders say passing sweeping legislation to expand voting rights and curb gerrymandering will be at or near the top of their governing agenda should Vice President Kamala Harris win the presidency this fall in… Continue reading

“Investors Favor Political Disclosures for Companies, Poll Finds”

August 21, 2024, 10:36 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bloomberg: Voters who are invested in the stock market want more transparency of corporate political spending, according to a new poll released as races heat up for the White House and down-ballot offices. In the survey, from the Zicklin… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Diana Dwyre and Robin Kolodny: “Things Stay the Same”

August 21, 2024, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book CornerRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome Diana Dwyre and Robin Kolodny to the ELB Book Corner, authors of the new book, The Fundamentals of Campaign Finance: Why We Have the System We Have (University of Michigan Press). The 30% discount code… Continue reading

“Harris and Trump Shield Their Big Campaign Fund-Raisers From the Public”

August 20, 2024, 4:37 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: Vice President Kamala Harris’s top campaign fund-raisers are being treated to four days of glitz and glam during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago — hotel packages at the Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons, an on-field visit to Wrigley… Continue reading

My Forthcoming Yale Law Journal Feature: “The Stagnation, Retrogression, and Potential Pro-Voter Transformation of U.S. Election Law”

August 20, 2024, 7:18 amauthoritarian threats in US, ballot access, Bush v. Gore reflections, campaign finance, cheap speech, chicanery, Constitutional Right to Vote, election administration, election law and constitutional law, Election Meltdown, election subversion risk, First Amendment theory, legislation and legislatures, political equality, political parties, political polarization, primaries, Real Right to Vote, social media and social protests, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, voting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have written this draft, forthcoming this spring in Volume 134 of the Yale Law Journal. I consider it my most important law review article (or at least the most important that I’ve written in some time). It offers… Continue reading