Campaign Finance

National: “Three-Quarters of the Secret Money in Recent Elections Came from 15 Groups” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

National: “Activists Raised $1 Million to Defeat Susan Collins If She Votes for Kavanaugh. She Says It’s Bribery.” by Eli Rosenberg for Washington Post

California: “Koch-Backed Charity Must Reveal Donor List to California Officials, Appeals Panel Rules” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for Connecticut Post

Elections

National: “Viral Videos Are Replacing Pricey Political Ads. They’re Cheaper, and They Work.” by Jeremy Peters and Sapna Maheshwari (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Trump Signs New Order to Sanction Countries That Meddle in U.S. Elections” by Deirdre Shesgreen for USA Today

Ethics

California: “Fair Political Practices Commission Begins Accepting Electronic Payments for Penalties” by the Staff for The Times-Herald

Iowa: “Iowa Governor Flew to Game on Vendor’s Plane” by Ryan Foley for Associated Press

New Jersey: “Murphy’s AG Vows to Go After Crooked Cops and Politicians with New Corruption Unit” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

Virginia: “The Cyclist Who Flipped Off Trump’s Motorcade Is Running for Public Office” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

National: “Campaigns, Parties Can Accept Free Service From Microsoft, FEC Says” by Stephanie Aiken for Roll Call

Alaska: “Realtors PAC Probably Getting Big Break on Fines for Campaign Finance Violations” by Amy Armstrong for Anchorage Press

Washington: “Judge Boosts Contempt Fines Against Tim Eyman in Campaign-Finance Lawsuit” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Elections

National: “In Hollywood, There’s a Nerdy New Hobby: Flipping the House” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “In an Increasingly Diverse House, Aides Remain Remarkably White” by Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for WRAL

Colorado: “Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission on Uncertain Course” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Springs Gazette

Lobbying

Michigan: “Lobbyist: Hawaii junket for Lansing lawmakers was ‘hard work’” by Paul Egan for Detroit Free Press

Ohio: “Ethics Panel Imposes Stricter Rules on Ohio Lawmaker Travel” by Jo Ingles for WOSU

Campaign Finance

National: “Dem Super PACs Keep Getting Bigger as Candidates Turn on PAC Money” by Maggie Severns for Politico

California: “How Eight Elite San Francisco Families Funded Gavin Newsom’s Political Ascent” by Seema Mehta, Ryan Menenzes, and Maloy Moore for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “Bank Closes Candidate’s Campaign Account Because of Medical Marijuana Ties – Again” by Samantha Gross for Miami Herald

Missouri: “Court Affirms Major Blow to Missouri Amendment Restricting Campaign Donations” by Jason Rosenbaum for St. Louis Public Radio

Elections

National: “Republicans Running for Governor Look for Success in Unlikely Places: Blue states” by Tim Craig for Washington Post

National: Democrats Embrace Liberal Insurgents, Demanding New Face for Party” by Alexander Burns (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

Nevada: “LVCVA Gift Card Scandal Attracts Nevada Ethics Scrutiny” by Jeff German for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “Cuomo Often Takes Taxpayer-Funded Planes and Helicopters, Far More Than Other Big State Governors” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times

Campaign Finance

California: “Banning Man Wins $220,000 from State Political Watchdog Panel” by Craig Schultz for Riverside Press-Enterprise

Washington: “Washington AG to Press for $18 Million Fine Against Foodmakers” by Don Jenkins for Capital Press

Ethics

National: “Papadopoulos Sentenced to 14 Days in Jail” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein for Politico

Arkansas: “Accomplice in Kickback Scheme Involving State Grants Gets 6 Years in Prison; House Arrest Plea Rejected” by Doug Thompson for Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Maryland: “Baltimore Ethics Board Rejects Mayor Pugh’s Request for Sweeping Exemption from Fundraising Rules” by Ian Duncan for Baltimore Sun

New Mexico: “Rio Arriba Official Is Facing 4 Felony Charges” by Edmundo Carrillo for Albuquerque Journal

South Carolina: “Statehouse Probe Offered Fixes to SC Ethics Laws. But a Judge Needs to Unseal Them.” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post and Courier

Lobbying

Arizona: “‘Women … Were Warned About Him:’ Phoenix lobbyist resigns after harassment complaints” by Jessica Boehm for Arizona Republic

Campaign Finance

New York: “Mayoral Charter Revision Commission Puts Three Questions on November Ballot” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Elections

National: “Once Bipartisan, an Election Security Bill Collapses in Rancor” by Catie Edmonson for New York Times

Massachusetts: “Ayanna Pressley Upsets Capuano in Massachusetts House Race” by Katharine Seelye for New York Times

North Carolina: “Court Won’t Force North Carolina Redistricting This Year” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

Ethics

National: “A Broken Relationship and Accusations of Emotional Abuse: The case of Keith Ellison” by Julie Turkewitz and Farah Stockman for New York Times

Colorado: “Colorado Lawmakers Who Don’t Attend Sexual Harassment Training Could Be Publicly Shamed” by John Herrick for Colorado Independent

Florida: “Andrew Gillum’s Receipts for New York and Costa Rica Trips Leave Unanswered Questions” by Jeff Burlew and Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahassee Democrat

Maryland: “Ex-Maryland Lawmaker Sentenced to 48 Months in Liquor Board Bribery Scheme” by Lyn Bui (Washington Post) for Danbury News Times

Procurement

Texas: “Texas Schools Agency Botched Award of Huge No-Bid Contract on Special Ed Student Data, Audit Finds” by Robert Garrett for Dallas News

Campaign Finance

National: “Cities Take Aim at the Spiraling Costs of Local Elections” by Sarah Holder for CityLab

Kansas: “Feds: Sen. Hutchinson stole campaign funds; spent money on cruises, jewelry and Netflix fees” by Wesley Brown for talkbusiness.net

Kentucky: “Father of Alison Lundergan Grimes Indicted in Campaign Finance Conspiracy” by Daniel Desrochers and Bill Estep (Lexington Herald-Leader) for McClatchy DC

Wisconsin: “Secret Cash Aided Politicians Who Rewrote Wisconsin Law to Block Claims of Lead-Poisoned Children” by Pawan Naidu (Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism) for Wisconsin Public Radio

Elections

Illinois: “Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Says He Won’t Run for Re-Election Next Year” by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune

Ethics

National: “Democrats, Eyeing a Majority, Prepare an Investigative Onslaught” by Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN

National: “As the Legislative Year Ends, the #MeToo Movement Shows Its Influence” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

New York: “How a Cuomo Donor Spent $25M in Public Funds It Didn’t Need” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Legislative Issues

National: “Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl Will be John McCain’s Successor in the U.S. Senate” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Maria Polletta (Arizona Republic) for USA Today

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Maine Ethics Commission Accepts Greatly Reduced Settlement – $100,000 – from Casino Campaign” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord Sentenced to 2½ Years in Prison” by Angela Couloumbis for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

Kentucky: “Another Kentucky Elections Staffer Accuses Grimes of Misusing Voter Data” by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader

Ethics

National: “How Trump Relies on His Cable News Cabinet as Much as The Real One” by Anne Gearan and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Says White House Counsel Donald McGahn Will Leave His Job in The Fall” by Robert Costa and Robert Barnes for Washington Post

New Mexico: “SIC Approves 2 More ‘Pay-to-Play’ Settlements” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Lobbying

National: “Paul Manafort’s Trial in D.C. to Take 3 Weeks, Probe Ukraine Lobbying World” by Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

Alabama: “Ethics Law Changes Mulled by Revision Commission” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Campaign Finance

California: “California Lawmakers Shelve Controversial Bill That Would Have Raised Campaign Contribution Limits” by Staff for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Group Wants Transparency in Missouri Government. And It’s Taking Dark Money Donations” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Elections

National: “Senate Finalizes New Amendments Language” by Travis Fain for WRAL

Ethics

Alabama: “Appeals Court Upholds Most Mike Hubbard Felony Ethics Convictions” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Georgia: “Ga. Supreme Court Rules DeKalb Ethics Board Makeup Unconstitutional” by Dyana Bigby for Reporter Newspapers

Ohio: “FBI Investigation: Ex-Ohio Speaker Cliff Rosenberger suspected of bribery, extortion” by Jessie Balmert and James Pitcher for Cincinnati Enquirer

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Federal Court Throws Out North Carolina’s Congressional Districts, Again” by Michael Wines aqnd Richard Fausset (New York Times) for WRAL

Campaign Finance

National: “Candidates Say ‘I Approve This Message’ Because of John McCain” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “Hard Partying and a Corruption Scandal: Duncan Hunter’s Political Life Unravels” by Tim Arango, Adam Nagourney, and Jose Del Real (New York Times) for MSN

North Carolina: “‘Take This Envelope, Put Money in Here.’ GOP Leader’s Comments to Donors Get Scrutiny” by Paul Specht for Raleigh News and Observer

Elections

National: “Democrats Strip Superdelegates of Power in Picking Presidential Nominee” by David Siders and Natasha Korecki for Politico

Ethics

California: “#MeToo Shifts Capitol Culture, But with Hitches” by Kelly Ronayne (Associated Press) for Ventura County Star

Maryland: “State Legislator from Baltimore Disciplined After Sexual Harassment Claims” by Erin Cox for Washington Post

Lobbying

Missouri: “Buying Influence: Do dark money, lobbyist gifts affect Missouri legislators’ policy?” by Alison Kite and Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Texas: “Ethics Commission Finds Lobbyist Innocent” by David Crowder for El Paso Inc.

Campaign Finance

National: “Microsoft Hopes to Protect Candidates Without Violating Campaign Contribution Law” by Tim O’Brien (Associated Press) for Seattle Times

Elections

National: “For Female Candidates, Harassment and Threats Come Every Day” by Maggie Astor for New York Times

California: “When California Lawmakers Removed Write-In Candidates from State and Congressional Ballots, It Wasn’t by Accident” by John Myers for Los Angeles Times

Georgia: “Georgia County Rejects Plan to Close 7 Polling Places in Majority-Black Area” by Richard Fausset for New York Times

Ethics

National: “When Is an Offense Impeachable? Look to the Framers for the Answer” by Adam Liptak (New York Times) for MSN

National: “National Enquirer’s Safe Held Damaging Trump Stories” by Associated Press for CNBC

New York: “Manhattan D.A. Eyes Criminal Charges Against Trump Organization” by William Rashbaum for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Senate Passes Bill to Require Lobbyists to Disclose Any Criminal Convictions” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

National: “Michael Cohen Says He Arranged Payments to Women at Trump’s Direction” by William Rashbaum, Maggie Haberman, Ben Protess, and Jim Rutenberg (New York Times) for MSN

National: “GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter and Wife Indicted on Charges of Misusing Campaign Funds” by John Bresnahan and Rachel Bade for Politico

California: “L.A. Ethics Commission Tables Proposed Ban on Developer Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Idaho: “Idaho Panel: Implement fines for campaign finance violations” by Kimberlee Kruesi (Associated Press) for Twin Falls Times-News

New Mexico: “Another Year in Prison for Griego” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Washington D.C: “Trayon White Paid Back Constituent Fund for ‘Inappropriate’ Nation of Islam Donation” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

Elections

North Carolina: “Court Blocks 2 Amendments From North Carolina Ballot After Governor’s Lawsuit” by Lynn Bonner (Tribune News Service) for Governing

Ethics

National: “Mueller Wins More Than a Conviction in Manafort Case” by Darren Samuelsohn and Josh Gerstein for Politico

Kentucky: “Loophole Allows Organizations to Pay for Legislators’ Out-of-State Travel Without Disclosing Amounts” by Joe Sonka for Insider Louisville

Campaign Finance

National: Michael Cohen Says He Arranged Payments to Women at Trump’s Direction by William Rashbaum, Maggie Haberman, Ben Protess, and Jim Rutenberg (New York Times) for MSN

Florida: “After a Florida Democrat Said She’d Take Donations from the Marijuana Industry, Wells Fargo Closed Her Bank Account” by Christopher Ingraham for Washington Post

Elections

National: “New Russian Hacking Targeted Republican Groups, Microsoft Says” by David Sanger and Sheera Frenkel (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

National: “After Collins Indictment, House Members Seek to Crack Down on Lawmakers’ Board Service” by Mike DeBonis (Washington Post) for Connecticut Post

New York: “Cuomo Signs Bill Banning Use of Paid Intermediaries to Win State Pension Fund Business” by Kenneth Lovett for New York Daily News

West Virginia: “How One West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Gave Natural Gas a Big Victory and Shortchanged Residents” by Ken Ward Jr. for ProPublica

Lobbying

National: “Elizabeth Warren Unveils Plans to Root Out Corruption in Washington, Ensure Federal Government Works for Americans” by Shannon Young for MassLive.com

Canada: “Lobbying Czar Calls for Federal Investment after Decade of Stagnant Funding” by Nicholas Russell for Richland Standard

California: “Female Lobbyist Lodges Complaint That State Sen. Joel Anderson Threatened to Hit Her” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

National: “Tax Cuts Are a Hit with One Pivotal G.O.P. Group: Rich donors” by Jim Tankersely and Michael Tackett (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Contractor Scrutinized for Giving $10K to James Super PAC” by Melissa Nann Burke for Detroit News

National: “Inside a Super PAC That Spends on Everything but Winning” by Brian Slodysko for Associated Press

Ethics

National: “Collins Indictment Spotlights Lawmaker Legal Defense Spending” by Elizabeth Olson for Bloomberg Law

National: “GOP Fundraiser Broidy Under Investigation for Alleged Effort to Sell Government Influence: Sources” by Carol Leonng, Devlin Barrett, Ellen Nakashima, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

California: “Developer Whose Wife Sat on Ethics Commission Faces $15,000 Fine Over Political Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Pennsylvania: “Former Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer Faces Trial Monday in FBI Case That Snagged Ed Pawlowski” by Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Campaign Finance

National: Despite Year-of-the-Woman Buzz, Female Candidates Lag Behind Men in Pulling in Campaign Cash by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post

Alabama: Obscure Names, Big Dollars: How Alabama chain PACs power campaigns & veil donors by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Missouri: Ethics Commission Says Greitens Campaign Broke the Law. Prosecutor Won’t File Charges by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Montana: Montana’s Campaign-Contribution Limits Appealed to U.S. Supreme Court by Mike Dennison for KXLH

Elections

Georgia: Georgia Voting Rights Activists Move to Block a Plan to Close Two-Thirds of Polling Places in a Majority Black County by Vanessa Williams (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Ethics

National: White House Counsel, Don McGahn, Has Cooperated Extensively in Mueller Inquiry by Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

National: Commerce Faces Scrutiny for Investments, Not Selling Certain Holdings by Steven Mufson for Washington Post

Lobbying

New York: A Corrupt Lobbyist’s Influence in the Cuomo Administration Is Revealed in Newly Disclosed Emails by Jesse McKinley for New York Times