Category Archives: campaigns

“Day after Arkansas Supreme Court justice takes stand, judge says he won’t block attack ads”

November 2, 2018, 8:01 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Arkansas Online: A federal judge on Thursday denied Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson’s request for an injunction to stop attack ads that have been airing against Goodson during her re-election campaign. The ruling, by U.S. District Judge Brian Miller, … Continue reading

“Just 56 Megadonors Funnel Nearly Half a Billion Dollars to Super PACs”

November 2, 2018, 7:58 amcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

Public Citizen: Fifty-six rich election donors have poured at least $2 million each into super PAC groups this election season, more than double the level in the 2014 midterms and a record for any midterm election, according to a report … Continue reading

North Dakota Ad Apparently Run By Democrats on Facebook Says Hunters Could Lose Out-of State Licenses by Voting in North Dakota; Controversy Shows Value of Disclosure

November 1, 2018, 3:20 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

This is interesting. Also interesting: the use that is being made of Facebook’s disclosure requirements. Sure seems to me to be an argument for mandatory disclosure of campaign ads. Don’t voters want to know who is behind these messages.

“How Big Oil Dodges Facebook’s New Ad Transparency Rules”

November 1, 2018, 8:22 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

ProPublica: A Facebook ad in October urged political conservatives to support the Trump administration’s rollback of fuel emission standards, which it hailed as “our president’s car freedom agenda” and “plan for safer, cheaper cars that WE get to choose.” The… Continue reading

“Women in Competitive House Races Are Outraising Male Opponents”

November 1, 2018, 7:52 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Campaign Finance Institute: The year 2018 saw a record number of women candidates competing in major party primary elections*, with another record number making it through to next week’s general election. An analysis by the Campaign Finance Institute of pre-general… Continue reading

“How politics became a risky business for companies in the era of Donald Trump, Steve King”

November 1, 2018, 7:51 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Fredreka Schouten for CNN.

“With $30 Million, Obscure Democratic Group Floods the Zone in House Races”

October 31, 2018, 2:26 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: A structure unknown even to some of those involved, Floridians for a Fair Shake and 13 other groups around the country are funded and coordinated out of a single office in Washington, with the goal of battering Republicans for… Continue reading

“New Issue One report highlights how Washington power players use leadership PAC contributions to buy access and influence in the 115th Congress”

October 31, 2018, 7:47 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Release via email: More than 500 leadership PACs operated by sitting members of Congress raised over $150 million so far this election cycle. Of this sum, more than 60 percent came from political action committees (PACs) connected to companies, trade… Continue reading

“Democratic super PACs and other outside groups are poised to outspend their Republican counterparts by a wide margin, erasing an advantage Republicans planned on having.”

October 28, 2018, 12:43 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: For the final two weeks of the election, Democratic campaigns and outside groups are on track to substantially outspend Republicans, strategists on both sides say. Democrats are set to spend $143 million on television advertising in House races, compared… Continue reading

Ken Doyle: “Shadow Parties’ Dominate Campaign Spending in Midterms”

October 26, 2018, 7:53 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Ken Doyle for Bloomberg (I miss his daily Money & Politics report in my inbox): “Shadow parties,” outside groups allied with Democratic and Republican leaders, are eclipsing traditional political parties, according to two new studies of campaign spending in the… Continue reading

“Texts to voters purportedly from Trump roil Kansas election”

October 26, 2018, 7:41 amcampaignsRick Hasen

AP: Kansas election officials are reviewing text messages claiming to be from President Donald Trump and telling residents that their early votes hadn’t been recorded, as Democratic leaders were quick Thursday to worry that they were part of efforts to… Continue reading

“NC candidate and campaign manager accused of trying to intimidate voters”

October 26, 2018, 7:38 amcampaignsRick Hasen

News & Observer: A voter said Rep. Chris Malone asked her whether she was preparing to vote twice while she waited at an early-voting site this week, in an attempt to intimidate her. Another woman said she overheard a man… Continue reading

“How ActBlue is trying to turn small donations into a blue wave”

October 25, 2018, 11:53 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

CPI: ActBlue, a nonprofit whose online fundraising tools have been used to varying degrees by nearly every Democrat running for Congress, says it has raised more than $2.9 billion for Democrats and progressive organizations since its founding in 2004. September… Continue reading

“Independent Spending Continues Record Pace; Party Groups Lead The Way”

October 23, 2018, 7:13 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Campaign Finance Institute: Independent expenditures (IEs) reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for general election House and Senate contests have continued on a record pace, totaling $695 million through October 21st. This is $103 million more than on the… Continue reading