Category Archives: campaign finance

11th Circuit finds Younger abstention applies to Georgia campaign finance dispute

July 8, 2024, 11:38 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

From New Georgia Project, Inc. v. Attorney General, an opinion by Judge Newsom, joined by Judges Rosenbaum and Marcus (some light revisions): In this appeal from the grant of a preliminary injunction, we are asked to decide whether two… Continue reading

“Top House Dem super PAC raised $51M in past three months”

July 8, 2024, 4:48 amcampaign finance, political partiesDan Tokaji

Politico: House Majority PAC, the super PAC affiliated with the chamber’s Democratic leadership, and House Majority Forward, an associated nonprofit group, raised a combined $51 million in the second quarter of 2024. That total is more than double what the… Continue reading

Second Circuit Unanimously Upholds New York Law Giving Recognized Political Parties Advantages under State Campaign Finance Laws

July 7, 2024, 1:59 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Read Upstate Jobs Party v. Kosinski, relying in part on the larger potential for corruption of independent groups that are not recognized political parties (via Richard Winger, who finds this decision objectionable in discriminating against unqualified political parties).

Democratic, Republican fundraising for election litigation hits $70 million in 15 months of 2023-24 election cycle, up from $45 million in 2020 (but down from $101 million in 2022)

July 5, 2024, 6:35 amcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

Continuing my occasional look at fundraising earmarked for election litigation, the first 15 months of this election cycle show more than $70 million fundraised earmarked for election litigation. That’s an increase from four years ago when it was nearly… Continue reading

“Major Democratic Donors Devise Plans to Pressure Biden to Step Aside”

July 4, 2024, 4:03 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: After several days of quiet griping and hoping that President Biden would abandon his re-election campaign on his own, many wealthy Democratic donors are trying to take matters into their own hands. Wielding their fortunes as both carrot and… Continue reading

“Here’s how Harris could take over Biden’s campaign cash if he drops out and she runs for president”

July 3, 2024, 4:54 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

AP News reports.

“Cash Crunch Squeezes Kennedy Amid Costly Fight for Ballot Spots”

July 2, 2024, 7:01 amballot access, campaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign is spending heavily, amassing steep debts and resorting to layoffs as it becomes almost singularly focused on the costly effort of placing his name on state ballots. The troubles, laid bare in… Continue reading

WRAL Capital Broadcasting Co. 3 Part Series on the New Role of Outside Money in North Carolina Elections

June 28, 2024, 2:29 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

CBC EDITORIAL INVESTIGATES: Outside campaign money dominates N.C. elections (PART ONE; Monday, June 24, 2024) CBC EDITORIAL INVESTIGATES: Outside groups spending on N.C. campaigns. Who they are? What they want? (PART TWO: Tuesday, June 25, 2024) CBC EDITORIAL INVESTIGATES: Voters’ … Continue reading

“New Pro-Trump Super PAC Quietly Spends Millions on G.O.P. Ground Game”

June 26, 2024, 4:59 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: Republicans have quietly formed a new super PAC that is preparing what appears to be a significant push to persuade former President Donald J. Trump’s voters to vote early or by absentee ballot. The group, America PAC, was created… Continue reading

“Disappointment and ‘depression’: Biden’s biggest fundraisers watch their advantage vanish”

June 23, 2024, 2:42 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: Joe Biden’s campaign planned to bury Donald Trump in an avalanche of cash. Instead, his allies are bracing for a slugfest without the benefit of a fatter wallet, as financial reports showed Trump outraising Biden in back-to-back months, hauling… Continue reading

“A Guide to Election Year Activities of Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) Organizations”

June 23, 2024, 2:36 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Steven Sholk’s latest update.

“Trump raised so much last month he erased Biden’s cash advantage”

June 21, 2024, 6:44 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: Former President Donald Trump’s huge May fundraising haul erased President Joe Biden’s longstanding cash advantage as the two gear up for a rematch. Trump’s campaign had $116.6 million in the bank at the end of May, compared to $91.6… Continue reading

“Timothy Mellon, Secretive Donor, Gives $50 Million to Pro-Trump Group”

June 21, 2024, 6:28 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

NYT: Timothy Mellon, a reclusive heir to a Gilded Age fortune, donated $50 million to a super PAC supporting Donald J. Trump the day after the former president was convicted of 34 felonies, according to new federal filings, an enormous… Continue reading