Category Archives: campaigns

ProPublica’s Brad Parscale Profile Discusses His Use of Social Media for Trump

September 11, 2019, 8:30 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

I found this part especially interesting (my emphasis): “If you don’t know what you’re talking about, you think he’s a 21st-century Steve Jobs,” says a Republican consultant who knows Parscale. “He’s not an asshole. He’s kind of a huckster. But… Continue reading

“Weaponizing the Ballot” (on Laws Requiring Candidate Disclosure of Tax Returns)

September 9, 2019, 1:03 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Derek Muller has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: States are considering legislation that would exclude presidential candidates from appearing on the ballot if they fail to disclose their tax returns. These proposals exceed the state’s power… Continue reading

“How Elizabeth Warren Raised Big Money Before She Denounced Big Money”

September 9, 2019, 8:14 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Russia Accuses Facebook And Google Of Illegal Election Interference”

September 9, 2019, 7:46 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Forbes: The irony will not be lost on anyone—Russia has just accused both Facebook and Google of “illegal” and “unacceptable” election interference during a poll in the country. And, no, you didn’t read that wrong.The “facts,” the country’s communications… Continue reading

Lots of Election Law/Non-Profit Tax Law Issues Raised in Major Jerry Falwell Jr. Expose in Politico

September 9, 2019, 7:37 amcampaign finance, campaigns, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Quite a read. In January, the Wall Street Journal reported that in 2014 and 2015, Michael Cohen hired Gauger’s side business, RedFinch LLC, to rig online polls in Donald Trump’s favor while he considered a run for the presidency. Gauger’s… Continue reading

“The Influence of Technology on Presidential Primary Campaigns”

September 2, 2019, 2:36 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Tony Gaughan has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming in Eugene Mazo and Michael Dimino (eds.), The Best Candidate: Presidential Nomination in Polarized Times (2020)). Here is the abstract: There is no doubt that the American people object to the… Continue reading

“How California’s voters may have saved Trump from releasing his taxes”

August 28, 2019, 8:38 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Bob Egelko for the SF Chronicle: Forty-seven years ago, California’s voters opened the state’s presidential primaries to all nationally recognized candidates. That ballot measure could determine the fate of a new state law requiring President Trump and his competitors to … Continue reading

“What’s the hurry on the challenge to the new tax return disclosure law?”

August 28, 2019, 8:20 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

David Ettinger on the Cal. Supreme Court’s case on the California tax return law.

“Facebook sharpens political ad rules ahead of 2020”

August 28, 2019, 7:44 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Axios: As political ad spending for 2020 ramps up, Facebook is tightening its rules to make sure that groups running political or issue ads are legitimate and aren’t gaming the system.Why it matters: With some high-profile examples of such evasion… Continue reading

“Richard Neal Facebook page mixes campaign, congressional business”

August 26, 2019, 8:06 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Roll Call: House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal used his government-funded official Facebook page to air campaign advertisements, Facebook Ad Library shows, potentially running afoul of House Ethics rules that prohibit campaign business on House official resources.In Neal’s… Continue reading