Campaign Finance

National: “Transgender Political Candidates Are Increasingly Common. The Money Backing Them Is Not” by Lateshia Beachbum for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

National: “In the Middle of His Official Business, Trump Took the Time to Send Checks to Michael Cohen” by Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Payments to Corporation Owned by Ocasio-Cortez Aide Come Under Scrutiny” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for MSN

Arkansas: “Arkansas Lawmakers Vote to Increase Maximum Ethics Fines” by the Associated Press for AP News

California: “California Lawmakers Accepted $810,000 in Gifts and Overseas Trips in 2018” by Patrick McGreevy and Tryn Luna (Los Angeles Times) for San Diego Union Tribune

Kentucky: “Kentucky Secretary of State Staff Searched Voting Records for Investigators and Rivals, Records Show” by Daniel Desrochers (Lexington Herald Leader) and Jessica Huseman for ProPublica

New Hampshire: “GOP Lawmakers Wore Pearls While Gun Violence Victims Testified. Activists Were Outraged.” by Reis Thebault for Washington Post

Oregon: “Oregon Legislature Reaches $1.3M Settlement Over Sexual Harassment” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian

Oregon: “Cylvia Hayes, Ex-Oregon First Lady, Agrees to Settle Ethics Charges for $44,000” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

South Carolina: “SC Politicians, Lobbyists and More 0we $2.4M in Ethics Fines, But Many Will Never Pay” by Lucas Deprile for The State

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Judge Says Ex-AG Horne Denied Due Process in Campaign Violations Case” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Kansas: “Prosecutors Weigh Options After Jury Acquits Michael O’Donnell on Most Counts” by Amy Renee Leiker for Wichita Eagle

Nevada: “Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson Resigns After Admitting to Misappropriating Campaign Funds for Personal Use” by Riley Snider, Megan Messerly, and Michelle Rindels for Nevada Independent

Ethics

National: “Trump Tweet Touting One of His Scotland Golf Courses as ‘the Greatest’ in the World Draws Criticism” by David Fahrenthold and Joel Achenbach (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

District of Columbia: “Towing Contractor Hooked D.C. Officials with $50,000 in Bribes, He Admits in Court” by Ann Marimow and Peter Jamison for Washington Post

Lobbying

National: “Ilhan Omar’s Criticism Raises the Question: Is Aipac too powerful?” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

Canada: “Lobbying Commissioner Should Investigate Facebook, Says MP Angus” by Elizabeth Thompson for CBC

Louisiana: “Entergy Fined $5M, Can Move Forward with New Power Plant” by Michael Issac Stein (The Lens) for Louisiana Weekly

Procurement

National: “Nationwide Lobbying Push for Contractor Monitoring Software Alarms State CIOs” by Benjamin Freed for StateScoop

Campaign Finance

Pennsylvania: “Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner Settles Campaign-Finance Violation” by Andrew Seidman for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

National: “‘Not in Compliance’: Wilbur Ross, the Trump official who keeps watchdogs up at night” by Carrie Levine and Peter Overby for Center for Public Integrity

National: “Federal Grand Jury Issued Subpoena for Documents Relating to D.C. Council Member Jack Evans” by Steve Thompson for Washington Post

Maryland: “Maryland Delegate Says She Won’t Resign after House Censures Her for ‘Racist and Hateful Slur’” by Luke Broadwater and Pamela Wood (Baltimore Sun) for MSN

South Carolina: “Panel Punts Vote on Controversial SC Nominee, Setting Up Battle on Senate Floor” by Bristow Marchant for The State

Texas: “‘Sense of Despair’ as Former Dallas City Council Member Pleads Guilty in Feds’ Case That Implicates Prominent Developer” by Robert Wilonsky for Dallas News

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “Why a Judge Ruled That the Entire North Carolina Legislature Is Illegitimate” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Former Public Servants Lobby Ex-Colleagues” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Regulators Now Have the Votes to Subpoena Utility’s Political Spending Records” by Howard Fischer (Arizona Daily Star) for Arizona Daily Star

Texas: “Most Dallas City Council Members’ Campaign-Finance Reports Show Violations – But No One Enforces Rules” by Corbett Smith for Dallas News

West Virginia: “W.Va. Senate Passes Bill to Change to Campaign Finance Law, Opponents Say It Lacks Transparency” by David Mistich for West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Elections

Illinois: “Chicago Poised to Elect first African-American Female Mayor After Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle Advance” by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune

North Carolina: “Bladen County Operative at Center of NC Election Fraud Investigation Indicted, Arrested” by Ely Portillo and Jim Morrill for Raleigh News and Observer

Ethics

National: “House Democrats Forge Ahead on Electoral Reform Bill” by Zach Montellaro for Politico

Pennsylvania: “Pa. Audit Says Officials Took Freebies from Voting Machine Firms” by Liz Navratil and Angela Couloumbis for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lobbying

New Hampshire: “NH Lobbyists Paid Record Fees in 2018 But Info Hard to Track” by Kevin Landrigan for Manchester Union Leader

Campaign Finance

Idaho: “Sunshine Bill on Electioneering Stalls in Committee, Amid Nonprofits’ Concerns Over ‘Donor Privacy’” by Savannah Cardon for Idaho Press

Rhode Island: “Ex-GOP Candidate for Congress in R.I. Charged in Fraud” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal

Elections

National: “U.S. Cyber Command Operation Disrupted Internet Access of Russian Troll Factory on Day of 2018 Midterms” by Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Maryland: “Md. Lawmaker Apologizes for Allegedly Using N-Word with Her Colleagues” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

California: “California Lawmakers and Lobbyists Hustle to Write Hundreds of Bills, Many Not Fully Cooked” by John Myers (Los Angeles Times) for San Diego Union Tribune

Lobbying

Kentucky: “Kentucky Senate OKs Bill to Reveal Executive Branch Lobbying” by The Associated Press for Miami Herald

Michigan: “Lobbyist Spending Topped the Charts in Michigan Last Year, Reports Show” by Carol Thompson for Lansing State Journal

Campaign Finance

Pennsylvania: “How Philly’s Electricians Union and Johnny Doc Converted Payroll Deductions into Political Influence” by Chris Brennan and Dylan Purcell for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

National: “Russian Spy or Hustling Political Operative? The Enigmatic Figure at the Heart of Mueller’s Inquiry” by Kenneth Vogel and Andrew Kramer (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

Arkansas: “Arkansas Grapples with Ethics Cleanup Amid Federal Probes” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for 4029tv

Ohio: “Even After FBI Probe of Ohio Speaker, Tracking Lawmakers’ Travel Remains Challenging” by Jessie Balmert for Cincinnati Enquirer

Legislative Issues

Illinois: “At Chicago City Hall, the Legislative Branch Rarely Does Much Legislating” by Mick Dumke for ProPublica

Oregon: “2 Oregon Lawmakers Demoted for Rude Behavior” by Sarah Zimmerman (Associated Press) for Portland Oregonian

Lobbying

California: “The Political Playbook of a Bankrupt California Utility” by Thomas Fuller and Ivan Penn (New York Times) for MSN

Louisiana: “Louisiana Cap on Legislative Wining and Dining Grows to $62” by The Associated Press for Tacoma News Tribune

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “NJ Senate Approves Legislation Requiring ‘Dark Money’ Groups to Reveal Donors” by David Levinsky for Burlington County Times

Oregon: “Polluted by Money” by Rob Davis for Portland Oregonian

Elections

North Carolina: “After Harris Admissions, a New Election in 9th District” by Travis Fain for WRAL

Ethics

National: “Judge Broadens Gag Order Against Roger Stone After Instagram Post” by Darren Samuelsohn, Josh Gerstein, and Matthew Choi for Politico

Florida: “The SWAT Team Showed Up at a Florida Mayor’s Door. Then He Started Shooting, Police Say.” by Reis Thebault and Eli Rosenberg for Washington Post

Tennessee: “Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Regrets Wearing Confederate Uniform in College” by Jonathan Matisse and Scott Stroud for AP News

Lobbying

Canada: “Ontario Lobbyists Fear Loss of Access Unless They Sell Ford Fundraiser Tickets” by Jill Mahoney and Adam Radwanski for The Globe and Mail

Nevada: “Law Would Alter Nevada Financial Disclosure, Lobbyist Rules” by Bill Dentzer for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Campaign Finance

National: “Elections Commission Chief Uses the ‘Nuclear Option’ to Rescue the Agency from Gridlock” by Nihal Krishan for Mother Jones

California: “L.A. Ethics Commission Backs New Restrictions on Developer Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Michigan: “Mayor Will File ‘Schor Lansing Fund’ with the IRS” by Kyle Kaminski and Berl Schwartz for Lansing City Pulse

Montana: “US Supreme Court Won’t Take Challenge to Montana Campaign Finance Law” by Corin Cates-Carney for Montana Public Radio

Washington: “SEIU State Council to Pay $128,000 in Civil Fines Over Campaign-Finance Lawsuit” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

National: “Top Ethics Watchdog Rejects Ross’s Financial Disclosure Form” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg

National: “A Federal Employee’s Ethics Guide During Future Government Shutdowns” by Nicole Ogrysko for Federal News Network

Texas: “Sen. Angela Paxton Files Bill That Would Allow Her Husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, to Issue Exemptions from Securities Regulations” by Emma Platoff for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

National: “Lawmakers Launch New Probe Into ‘Complex Web’ of Alleged Ties Between NRA, Russians” by Pete Madden and Matthew Mosk for ABC News

Ohio: “Highland Heights Mayor Scott Coleman Expected to Resign After Embezzlement Accusation” by Sabrina Eaton for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Elections

California: “Nation’s First All-LGBTQ City Council Tests Modern Meaning of Diversity” by Scott Wilson (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

Ethics

National: “Trump Can’t Run the Mueller Playbook on New York Feds” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

National: “Flynn Pushed to Share Nuclear Tech with Saudis, Report Says” by Chad Day for AP News

National: “Intimidation, Pressure and Humiliation: Inside Trump’s two-year war on the investigations encircling him” by Mark Mazzetti, Maggie Haberman, Nicholas Fandos, and Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN

Lobbying

Arkansas: “Panel: No food, drink for legislators at event” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Michigan: “Michigan Senator Seeks to End ‘Revolving Door’ of Lawmakers Turned Lobbyists” by Lindsay Van Hulle for Bridge Michigan

Campaign Finance

Oregon: “‘Give Me the Money, and I’ll Give It to Her.’ Former Oregon Lawmaker Describes Participating in Dubious Campaign Practice” by Rob Davis for Portland Oregonian

Elections

National: “The Growing Need for Opposition Research – on Yourself – in Today’s Political World” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Ethics

National: “Capitol Police Crackdown on Press Escalates to Physical Altercation” by Katherine Tully-McManus for Roll Call

Maine: “Maine Paid for 40 Rooms at Trump Hotel for LePage, Staff” by Scott Thistle and Kevin Miller for Portland Press Herald

New Jersey: “This N.J. Mayor Is Getting Paid to Fight Legal Weed. Here’s Why That’s Causing Trouble.” by Payton Guion (NJ Advance Media) for Bergen Record

New York: “Victims Offer Harrowing Testimony at Sexual Harassment Hearing” by Rachel Silberstein for Albany Times Union

South Carolina: “After Corruption Scandal, SC Lawmakers Push Changes at Electric Cooperatives” by Avery Wilkes for The State

Campaign Finance

National: Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Increasingly See Small-Dollar Donations as a Sign of Viability by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

Alabama: Few Disclosure Requirements for Money Raised After an Election by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Louisiana: Campaign Funds Can Be Used for Child Care, Louisiana Ethics Board Rules in Reversal by Julia O’Donoghue for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Rhode Island: Political Donations by Strip-Club Industry Made in Lobbying Firm’s Name by Brian Amaral for Providence Journal

Ethics

National: Supreme Court Takes Up Trump Administration’s Plan to Ask About Citizenship in Census by Robert Barnes (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

New Mexico: Senator Wants Ethics Panel’s Work Mostly Secret by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Political Report

Virginia: Richmond’s Donor Class and the VMI Brotherhood Stand Behind Embattled Virginia Governor by Gregory Schneider for Washington Post

Lobbying

National: Former Trump Officials Are Supposed to Avoid Lobbying. Except 33 Haven’t. by Derek Kravitz for ProPublica

Campaign Finance

National: “Court Ruling Doesn’t Stop Untraceable Election Spending” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for apnews.org

Tennessee: “Tennessee Lawmakers Appeared to Violate Fundraising Rules – but They’re Unlikely to Face Penalties” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

National: “How Manafort’s 2016 Meeting with a Russian Employee at New York Cigar Club Goes to ‘the Heart’ of Mueller’s Probe” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

National: “Former Federal Election Commission Chair Ann Ravel Runs for State Senate in San Jose” by Casey Tolan for San Jose Mercury News

Oregon: “Oregon Secretary of State Proposes $95K Fine for Ballots Turned in Late” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

National: “Top Leader at Interior Dept. Pushes a Policy Favoring His Former Client” by Coral Davenport for New York Times

Montana: “Who Should Fall Under the Montana Legislature’s Anti-Harassment Policy? No Easy Answer” by Holly Michels for Helena Independent Record

New Mexico: “Ethics Commission Measure Unveiled” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Lobbying

Washington: “Seattle Ethics Commission May Shine Light on Political Work, City Hall Lobbying” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Procurement

California: “To Do Business with L.A., City Contractors Now Must Disclose Ties with the NRA” by Dakota Smith for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

Louisiana: “Ethics Board to Reconsider If Louisiana Candidates Can Pay for Child Care with Campaign Funds” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate

Ethics

National: “Rick Scott Won’t Put His Wealth in a Blind Trust Anymore” by Steve Contorno for Tampa Bay Times

Canada: “Ethics Inquiry Opened Over Justin Trudeau’s Actions in Bribery Case” by Ian Austen for New York Times

Colorado: “John Hickenlooper Ethics Complaint Over Travel Is Moving Forward After Commission Refuses to Dismiss” by Nic Garcia for Denver Post

Florida: “The Lawmaker Who Dressed in Blackface Is Pushing an Ethics Bill Today. Does It Matter?” by Lawrence Mower for Tampa Bay Times

North Dakota: “North Dakota Bill Would Keep Ethics Complaint Process Largely Secret” by Patrick Springer for Inforum.com

Lobbying

National: “Ex-Lawmakers Face New Scrutiny Over Lobbying” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill

National: “National Enquirer’s Parent Firm Asked U.S. If It Should Register as Foreign Agent for Saudis” by Josh Lederman for NBC News

New Mexico: “Public Disclosure of Legislation a Lobbyist Works on Moves Forward” by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth

Campaign Finance

Michigan: “Benson: Pro-Whitmer group broke campaign finance law, will pay fine” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

New York: “Analysis: Public matching program increases heft of small donors” by David Lombardo for Albany Times Union

Ethics

National: “House Democratic Leaders Call Ilhan Omar’s Tweets ‘Anti-Semitic’ and ‘Deeply Offensive’” by Rachel Bade, Kristine Phillips, Mike DeBonis, and Meagan Flynn for Washington Post

Georgia: “Ethics Commission Director Resigns in Middle of Ethics Investigation” by Dale Russell for WAGA

Pennsylvania: “No Prison Time for Former Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s Top Aide” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Texas: “In Texas, More Than a Million Dollars in Ethics Fines Have Gone Unpaid” by Johnny Kampis for Texas Monitor

Virginia: “Virginia Democrats Looking for a Clear Path Forward from Scandals” by Amy Gardner and Jenna Portnoy (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

Lobbying

New York: “Claiming Attempt to Silence Them, Advocacy Groups Oppose Cuomo Lobbying Proposal” by Lysette Voytko for Gotham Gazette