Category Archives: campaign finance

Biden DOJ Asks SCOTUS for Chance to Give Up Defense of Laws Limiting Political Parties from Becoming Conduits for Large Campaign Contributions; Trump DOJ Will File Instead

January 2, 2025, 1:01 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

See this letter from the Solicitor General requesting an extension of time into the Trump Administration to file a response to the cert. petition in the NRSC case. Here is what I wrote in an earlier post on this case… Continue reading

“How Elon Musk Has Planted Himself Almost Literally at Trump’s Doorstep; For much of the period since Election Day, the billionaire has been staying at a $2,000-a-night cottage at Mar-a-Lago, giving him easy access to the president-elect.”

December 31, 2024, 6:36 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

NYT: Elon Musk plays many roles with President-elect Donald J. Trump. He is Mr. Trump’s most important donor, most influential social media promoter and a key adviser on policy and personnel. For most of the time since Election Day, he… Continue reading

“This Was the Year of the Influencer Political Takeover”

December 27, 2024, 7:29 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Wired: After years of sitting on the sidelines, content creators became a part of the mainstream political media this year, delivering election news, analysis, and political commentary to their online fans—all while sidestepping the traditional press. Eighty-one-year-old Joe Biden… Continue reading

“Here’s why business leaders are spending big on Trump’s inaugural committee”

December 24, 2024, 9:48 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

CNBC: Top CEOs and their companies are pledging to donate millions of dollars to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural committee, as they seek to get on his good side and make inroads before he takes office. Some of the planned … Continue reading

Ninth Circuit, on 2-1 Vote, Holds Unconstitutional Campaign Contribution Limits in Oxnard, California Elections

December 20, 2024, 4:13 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

The majority and dissent agreed to apply the Supreme Court’s Randall framework, but disagree on application. Perhaps the Ninth Circuit will take up this case en banc, as it seems in tension with other circuit precedent.

“Online Ad Spending in the 2024 Election Topped $1.35 Billion”

December 19, 2024, 5:29 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

New from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, OpenSecrets, and the Wesleyan Media Project. Key findings: Between January 1, 2023, and November 5, 2024, online political advertisers spent $1.35 billion to buy ads on Google and Meta. More… Continue reading

“Campaign Finance: Observations on Public Financing Programs in Selected States and Localities”

December 19, 2024, 1:12 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

New GAO report: States and localities have generally implemented public campaign financing programs using one of three models: (1) grants—participating candidates receive lump-sum grants of public funds; (2) matching funds—participating candidates receive public funds matching certain private contributions they raise,… Continue reading

Anna Massoglia: “A New Chapter: Why I Am Leaving OpenSecrets – And What’s Next”

December 19, 2024, 6:57 amcampaign finance, election law bizRick Hasen

I’ve long been a huge fan of Anna Massoglia and her data work at Open Secrets. With the contraction of Open Secrets, Anna is out on her own, including with the new Influence Brief. Looking forward to seeing her… Continue reading

As Supreme Court Sets TikTok Case for Oral Argument, Senator McConnell, Champion of First Amendment in Citizens United, Files Amicus Brief Saying Government Can Shut Down Platform to stop “deployment of subversive enemy propaganda through algorithmic curation.”

December 18, 2024, 12:42 pmcampaign finance, First Amendment theory, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Quite the amicus brief from the purportedly free-speech Senator McConnell. The Supreme Court set a very expedited schedule for oral argument in the TikTok case (unlike its dilatory tactics in the Trump immunity case).

TikTok Goes to Supreme Court Seeking Emergency Order to Block Law Requiring Sale/Shutdown, Citing Rejection of the Antidistortion Interest in Campaign Finance Cases

December 16, 2024, 1:02 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

You can find the filing here (via NBC News). The relevant discussion of the antidistortion interest is on pages 25-26. See my earlier post on the parallels to the campaign finance cases. UPDATE: Here is the docket.

“Open-Government Nonprofits Are Dying Off Just When They’re Needed Most”

December 16, 2024, 10:59 amcampaign finance, election law bizRick Hasen

Daniel Schuman for The Bulwark: OPENSECRETS, THE NONPROFIT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION dedicated to disclosing the role of money in politics, laid off one-third of its staff last month due to financial difficulties. This sparked understandable concern in newsrooms, think tanks,… Continue reading

“New York City mayor’s campaign denied millions in public matching funds”

December 16, 2024, 8:12 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Politico: Election officials on Monday denied a request from New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2025 campaign for millions in public matching dollars. The decision — based on bookkeeping irregularities and a federal criminal case against Adams involving straw donors — deals… Continue reading

“What If Free Speech Means Banning TikTok?”

December 13, 2024, 12:26 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Alan Rozenshtein in The Atlantic: But in its decision, the court did something unexpected. In addition to crediting the government’s national-security arguments, it highlighted an important tension within pro-free-expression arguments: the right to access and speak on the platform of… Continue reading

“Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Plans to Donate $1 Million to Trump’s Inauguration; The tycoon, long a Trump foe, is among tech leaders seeking improved ties with the president-elect”

December 13, 2024, 7:37 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WSJ: Amazon.com is planning a $1 million donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, as founder Jeff Bezos and other tech leaders shore up ties with the incoming administration. The donation is being prepared as Bezos, Amazon’s … Continue reading