Category Archives: campaign finance
“Kevin McCarthy uses PAC to lavish cash on high-end resorts, private jets and fine dining”
LAT:
Rambling above the rust-colored cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Terranea Resort is known for its ocean views, world-ranked spa and villas that can command $3,000 a night or more.
The property is less well known as a… Continue reading
“Why big-money super PACs keep blowing it for their candidates”
Dave Weigel:
It wasn’t surprising that some candidates jumped at the chance to effectively outsource their campaign to a handful of big donors, once that became a clear possibility, rather than relying on fickle small donors and exhausting grip-and-grins with… Continue reading
Watch Video of Panelists Discussing Ann Southworth’s Terrific New Book, “Big Money Unleashed”
This was a great discussion of Ann Southworth’s must-read new book, Big Money Unleashed. I was honored to be part of the discussion. Watch:
“Donor allegedly offered $20M to recruit a Tlaib primary challenger”
Politico:
A Michigan businessman called Democratic Senate candidate Hill Harper to offer $20 million in campaign contributions if he agreed to drop out and instead mount a primary challenge to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, according to a source with direct knowledge of the… Continue reading
“PhRMA contributed record sum to GOP-aligned dark money group in 2022, new tax filing reviewed by Issue One shows”
Release:
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America — the trade association also known as PhRMA that represents the country’s top drug companies, including Eli Lilly, Merck, and Pfizer — has contributed more than $34.5 million to the Republican-aligned dark money… Continue reading
Ninth Circuit, Over the Dissent from Denial of Rehearing En Banc by a Number of Conservative Judges, Upholds a San Francisco Campaign Finance Disclosure Law for Ballot Measure Elections
The panel’s result in this case seems both correct and one that the Supreme Court could well agree to hear and overturn. (For reasons I explain here.)
Nov. 16 Free Online Forum on Ann Southworth’s Terrific New Book, “Big Money Unleashed”
Very excited to participate in this event:
“Abuse of Discretion: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Indefensible Use of Evidence in Election Law Cases”
I have posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
This is the written version of a keynote address delivered to the Southern California Law and Social Science (SOCLASS) Forum, “Elections, Law and Democracy” Conference, Whittier Law School, March… Continue reading
“Exclusive: In our ‘hyper-polarized’ political climate, 20% of the S&P 500 is now doing this”
Marketwatch:
As the U.S. continues to look polarized politically, a growing number of S&P 500 companies have made the effort to earn the highest scores from a watchdog organization that’s focused on transparency in corporate political spending.
That’s according to… Continue reading
Allegations of Foreign Money Flowing into NYC Mayor Eric Adams 2021 Mayoral Race
NYT:
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Thursday searched the Brooklyn home of Mayor Eric Adams’s chief fund-raiser, Brianna Suggs, a campaign consultant who is deeply entwined with efforts to advance the mayor’s agenda, according to two people… Continue reading
“Mitch McConnell warns GOP senators they’ll face ‘incoming’ if they back Hawley bill to limit corporate giving in campaigns”
CNN:
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell bluntly warned Republican senators in a private meeting not to sign on to a bill from Sen. Josh Hawley aimed at limiting corporate money bankrolling high-powered outside groups, telling them that many of them… Continue reading
“Prosecutors Withdraw Second Subpoena in Trump Fund-Raising Inquiry”
NYT:
Federal prosecutors have quietly withdrawn a subpoena seeking records from former President Donald J. Trump’s 2020 campaign as part of their investigation into whether Mr. Trump’s political and fund-raising operations committed any crimes as he sought to stay in… Continue reading
Tenth Circuit, Following Supreme Court’s Decision in AFPF v. Bonta, Finds Aspect of Wyoming’s Campaign Finance Law Unconstitutional under the First Amendment
What’s most significant in this decision by Judge Tymkovich for a unanimous 3-judge panel is the determination that Bonta makes it harder to sustain campaign finance disclosure laws (as I said in a NYT oped the day after the… Continue reading