Category Archives: campaign finance

“Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money”

November 24, 2024, 9:40 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

NYT: President-elect Donald J. Trump is keeping secret the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort, a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what interest groups, businesses or wealthy people are helping launch… Continue reading

New Interactive Data Base from the Center for Political Accountability

November 22, 2024, 5:57 amcampaign financeTabatha Abu El-Haj

The Center for Political Accountability today announced the launch of The Barbara and Morris Pearl 527 Interactive Database, a user-friendly interactive database created to shine a spotlight on under-the-radar corporate political spending in the United States. The database has two… Continue reading

“Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Alaska campaign finance laws”

November 19, 2024, 7:40 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I missed this news yesterday: More than 14 years after the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which removed limits on independent political expenditures by corporations and unions, the justices declined to weigh in on … Continue reading

“Inside the Republican false-flag effort to turn off Kamala Harris voters”

November 15, 2024, 7:27 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: Muslims in Michigan began seeing pro-Israel ads this fall praising Vice President Kamala Harris for marrying a Jewish man and backing the Jewish state. Jews in Pennsylvania, meanwhile, saw ads from the same group with the opposite message:… Continue reading

“Clashes, confusion and secrecy consume the Harris campaign’s finances”

November 14, 2024, 7:54 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NBC News: If Kamala Harris’ campaign was known for anything, it was its blockbuster fundraising. In just a matter of months, it crossed the $1 billion mark, in a stunning and record-breaking pace. Now, less than a week since… Continue reading

“Elon Musk’s PAC spent an estimated $200 million to help elect Trump, AP source says”

November 12, 2024, 7:30 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

AP: Elon Musk’s super PAC spent around $200 million to help elect Donald Trump , according to a person familiar with the group’s spending, funding an effort that sets a new standard for how billionaires can influence elections. The billionaire… Continue reading

Weissman: “Judge’s Error Casts Shadow Over Trump’s Felony Convictions”

November 7, 2024, 10:47 amcampaign finance, UncategorizedRick Hasen

The following is a guest post from Stephen R. Weissman: President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on November 26th for 34 New York State felonies. Even if his lawyers are able to secure an indefinite postponement of that… Continue reading

“What to Know About Trump’s New York Criminal Case After the Election”

November 7, 2024, 7:04 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump was the one criminal case against the former president that actually went to trial. Now that Mr. Trump has reclaimed the presidency, it, too, is in jeopardy.… Continue reading

“Trump’s Victory Is a Major Win for Elon Musk and Big-Money Politics”

November 6, 2024, 2:44 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

NYT: His victory lap was the culmination of an effort that began only six months ago and depended on a risky gamble: Mr. Musk’s new super PAC effectively led Mr. Trump’s get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states — and Mr. Trump… Continue reading

“Musk to Spend Election Night With Trump; Elon Musk has spent $119 million on a super PAC supporting Donald Trump and held events on his behalf. But his ownership of X is especially valuable.”

November 5, 2024, 11:11 amcampaign finance, campaigns, cheap speechRick Hasen

NYT: Elon Musk plans to spend election night with former President Donald J. Trump, giving Mr. Trump direct access to the person controlling one of key information platforms on what could be a chaotic evening…. Mr. Musk is joining the… Continue reading

“Judge Allows Unusual G.O.P. Strategy to Pump Money Into Senate Races”

November 2, 2024, 11:32 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: A federal judge ruled on Friday that Senate Republicans may continue to pump tens of millions of dollars into key swing state races in the final days of the 2024 campaign by employing an unusual advertising strategy that Democrats… Continue reading

“Amazon donates to group backing hardline anti-abortion Republican; DoorDash and CVS also contributing funds to Raga group trying to re-elect Todd Rokita, who favors total abortion ban”

November 1, 2024, 6:25 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Guardian: Amazon, DoorDash and CVS Health are among major US companies publicly committed to supporting reproductive rights that have nonetheless contributed this year to a group supporting the re-election of Todd Rokita, the Republican attorney general of Indiana… Continue reading

“Billionaires’ new playground”

October 31, 2024, 7:22 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

Axios: Billionaire DNA is coursing through the U.S. election system like never before, smashing campaign finance records and ushering in a new age of influence. Why it matters: In an election that both sides see as existential, the moral guardrails… Continue reading

“Elon Musk-Funded PAC Supercharges ‘Progress 2028’ Democrat Impersonation Ad Campaign”

October 30, 2024, 4:42 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, cheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

404 Media: An Elon Musk-funded super PAC has expanded an advertising campaign in which it is impersonating Democrats and targeting registered Republicans with policies unpopular with conservatives they say Kamala Harris will pass if she wins the election. The policies,… Continue reading