National/Federal

Trump’s Victory Is a Major Win for Elon Musk and Big-Money Politics

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Susanne Craig (New York Times) | Published: 11/6/2024

At an election-night gathering, Elon Musk sat two seats away from Donald Trump, ready to claim wide credit for his decisive presidential win. His victory lap was the culmination of an effort that began only six months ago and depended on a risky gamble: Musk’s new super PAC effectively led Trump’s get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states and Trump entrusted a crucial campaign function to a political neophyte. There is little doubt the election was a win not only for Musk but also big-money politics: an ultrawealthy donor took advantage of America’s evolving campaign finance system to put his thumb on the scale like never before.

Control of House Hangs in Balance, with Enormous Implications for Trump’s Agenda

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 11/6/2024

The U.S. House majority hangs in the balance, teetering between Republican control that would usher in a new era of unified GOP governance in Washington or a flip to Democrats as a last line of resistance to a Donald Trump second-term agenda. A few individual seats, or even a single one, will determine the outcome. Final tallies will take a while, likely pushing the decision into next week, or beyond.

Court Ruling Threatens to Curb Billions in Political ‘Dark Money’

MSN – Richard Rubin and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 10/30/2024

A federal appeals court said nonprofit groups cannot qualify for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code if they have a substantial nonexempt purpose. That is a much stricter standard than the one in IRS regulations, which say groups only need a primary purpose that qualifies for the exemption. The decision from a conservative court sets a tighter legal standard for tax-exempt status that the advocates for political donor transparency have long sought.

What’s in Your TikTok Feed? As Elections Near, It May Depend on Gender.

MSN – Jeremy Merrill, Cristano Lima-Strong, and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2024

A significant gender gap has emerged in this year’s presidential campaign, with women voters breaking for Kamala Harris and men for Donald Trump. For participants in a unique Washington Post experiment, that gap has also shown up in their TikTok feeds. The findings shed light on how TikTok is shaping the way American adults, especially younger ones, get their news, and what they see about politics.

Nearly a Decade After Pleading Guilty, ‘Fat Leonard’ Is Sentenced in Massive Navy Bribery Scandal

MSN – Alex Riggins (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/5/2024

The Malaysian contractor known as “Fat Leonard,” who bribed dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers in the Navy’s worst-ever corruption scandal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Leonard Francis, who was arrested in September 2013 during a sting operation that lured him to San Diego, pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Francis also pleaded guilty to a charge related to his flight from custody and failure to appear for his previously set sentencing in 2022.

Donald Trump Wins Presidential Election, Defeating Harris to Retake White House

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Donald Trump was elected the nation’s 47th president, returning to the White House after a criminal conviction and two impeachments by riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction. To Trump and his supporters, retaking power after failing to overturn his 2020 election loss, inspiring a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, and withstanding two impeachments, four criminal indictments, a conviction, and two assassination attempts represents a major vindication for their cause.

Republicans Take Back Senate Control

MSN – Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Republicans regained control of the Senate after winning two crucial races, boosted by Donald Trump’s presidential win. GOP control will boost Trump’s ability to enact his agenda, as well as to staff his administration. Many crucial Cabinet and judicial appointments require Senate confirmation.

States Projected to Approve Measures Restricting Noncitizens from Voting

MSN – Patrick Marley, Praveena Somasundaram, and Nick Miroff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Voters in several states were on track to adopt provisions by wide margins that further restrict voting by noncitizens, who are already ineligible to cast ballots in state and federal elections. Republicans pressed for the measures in eight states as Donald Trump and his supporters contended without evidence that noncitizens vote in significant numbers. They said their efforts would help ward off noncitizen voting in state and federal elections and prevent local officials from allowing noncitizens to participate in municipal or school elections. Nineteen communities around the country allow noncitizens to vote in such elections.

Trump’s Win Is a Huge Legal Victory, too. His Trials Will Mostly Vanish.

MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Perry Stein, Holly Bailey, and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Donald Trump’s election victory ensures his lawyers will seek to delay his upcoming sentencing hearing in Manhattan, where he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal from voters from voters a hush money payment. Such a request would trigger a discussion about how the judge should proceed with the historic case – the first trial of a former president, who now is now president-elect. Trump vowed as a candidate to “fire” special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal cases against him. Prosecutors in Georgia will struggle to go forward with trying him for attempting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.

Jan. 6 Riot Defendants Celebrate Trump’s Election, Angle for Pardons

MSN – Spencer Hsu, Tom Jackman, and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Some defendants charged in the Capitol attack reacted to Donald Trump’s election victory with elation, as their defense lawyers began taking steps to delay trials or sentences in ongoing cases in anticipation of presidential pardons or more lenient treatment from a reshaped Justice Department. Trump has made pardoning January 6 defendants a signature campaign promise. He has not made clear who among the group of 1,500-plus people charged would receive pardons, though he has declined to rule out anyone, including members of extremist groups whose leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Republicans Make Major Gains in Control of State Governments

Yahoo News – Kevin Hardy (Stateline) | Published: 11/7/2024

Republicans won the White House on November 5 and strengthened their hold on state governments across the country. Before the election, the GOP controlled 57 state legislative chambers, while Democrats controlled 41 (Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature is nonpartisan). Republicans defended or expanded their control in several state capitols and won the only closely contested gubernatorial race with the election of former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte as New Hampshire’s next governor.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Campaign Finance Laws Make Funding of Election Challenges Murky

Arizona Capitol Times – Kiera Riley | Published: 11/1/2024

Funds fueling state candidate election challenges remain shrouded by Arizona’s campaign finance code, while congressional candidates’ funding is made fairly transparent by the FEC. A gap in reporting requirements between state and federal campaign finance laws has not drawn much ire from either side of the aisle beyond some raised eyebrows on who is financing litigation from last cycle and is still active well into 2024.

California – Real Estate Consultant Chiang Avoids Prison in Huizar’s LA City Hall Pay-to-Play Scheme

Daily Breeze – City News Service | Published: 11/5/2024

A real estate development consultant was sentenced to home detention and community service, but no prison time, for his role in the pay-to-play scheme at City Hall tied to now-imprisoned ex-City Councilperson Jose Huizar’s approval of large building projects in Los Angeles. George Chiang was also ordered to pay the maximum fine of $250,000. Because of his cooperation in the investigation, Chiang received a far lighter penalty than the 20 years in prison the charge carried, court papers show.

California – Measure OO: Effort to beef up Oakland’s public ethics commission leads comfortably

Local News Matters – Kiley Russell (Bay City News Service) | Published: 11/6/2024

Oakland’s Measure OO, designed to strengthen and update the city’s Public Ethics Commission (PEC), was ahead with about 72 percent of the vote based on early returns. The ballot measure would change the qualifications for the PEC, tighten rules governing lobbyist gifts to elected officials, add one more investigator to the commission’s staff, and authorize the PEC executive director to hire outside lawyers on issues where the city attorney has a conflict-of-interest, among other things.

California – Mark Farrell Hit with One of the Largest Ethics Fines on Eve of S.F. Mayoral Election

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/4/2024

Mayoral candidate Mark Farrell is set to pay $108,000, the largest settlement in San Francisco Ethics Commission history, for campaign finance law violations. The agreement stems from Farrell launching a committee to support a ballot measure that has shared payroll and other expenses with his mayoral campaign. Unlike his mayoral campaign, Farrell’s ballot measure committee could accept donations beyond the $500 per person limit. An investigation found the committee repeatedly overpaid his mayoral campaign for their shared expenses.

California – Former 49ers Lobbyist’s Testimony Implicates Santa Clara Councilman in Grand Jury Leak

MSN – Lance Williams (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/6/2024

The San Francisco 49ers’ former top lobbyist testified Anthony Becker, the 2022 candidate for mayor of Santa Clara the team supported, leaked to him a confidential grand jury report that was sharply critical of the 49ers’ heavy involvement in local politics. Rahul Chandhok’s testimony implicated Becker on both a misdemeanor charge of mishandling an official document and perjury, for lying under oath in an ensuing investigation into how the leak occurred.

California – Former Huizar Associate Sentenced to Six Months Home Detention

The Eastsider LA – City News Service | Published: 11/4/2024

A longtime lobbyist and former City Hall official was sentenced to six months’ home detention for conspiring with now-imprisoned ex-Councilperson José Huizar in a bribery scheme. Morrie Goldman was also ordered to pay a $60,000 fine. Goldman pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiring to commit bribery and honest services mail fraud in the government’s investigation of corruption at City Hall.

Colorado – Xcel Energy Ordered to Remove Investor Relations and Executive Salaries from Costs Passed on to Colorado Consumers

Colorado Sun – Mark Jaffe | Published: 11/5/2024

Colorado utility regulators, using the mandates in a 2023 law. are looking to carve lobbying fees, trade association dues, and investor relations costs from Xcel Energy rate requests. In a current gas rate case, more than $775,000 in such costs were disallowed. The figure in the future could be a lot higher based on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission decision in October ordering Xcel Energy to remove all investor relations costs, including a portion of executive salaries, from its calculations of costs passed on to customers.

Connecticut – CT’s Election Watchdog Agency Is Investigating 214 Cases, One Going Back 10 Years. What’s Taking So Long?

Stamford Advocate – Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Ken Dixon | Published: 11/2/2024

Ten years have passed since Thomas Banisch filed a complaint with the state watchdog agency responsible for investigating and enforcing Connecticut’s election laws. The complaint alleging Ted Kennedy Jr. illegally raised $130,000 in his run for state Senate has yet to be resolved by the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission. The database used to track the progress and status of election complaints shows dozens of others have been open for over a year. Nearly half the investigations the agency has closed over the last decade took at least a year to complete.

Delaware – Sarah McBride Wins Delaware Congressional Seat, Becomes First Transgender Rep in US History

MSN – Xerxes Wilson (Delaware News Journal) | Published: 11/5/2024

State Sen. Sarah McBride will be Delaware’s next representative in Congress, becoming the first transgender person elected to federal office in the history of the United States. She said her victory also sends a policy message, emphasizing her goals in Congress, that housing and healthcare be available to all, protecting reproductive freedom, and guaranteeing paid leave. McBride gained national attention when she became the first openly trans person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.

District of Columbia – Contractor at Center of Bribery Scandal Dropped from Sports Gambling Deal

MSN – Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2024

The District of Columbia halted more work with one of the contractors at the center of a federal investigation into Council member Trayon White Sr. District Services Management was dropped from a sports gambling subcontract, one of many government awards the company had received before its founder pleaded guilty to bribing a city official.

Florida – A Lobbyist Was Cited by the Ethics Commission; Now He’s Suing and Wants to Clear His Name

MSN – Mike Diamond (Palm Beach Post) | Published: 11/1/2024

Lobbyist Ron Book was cited for failing to cash checks from Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter for a ride on his private jet to Tallahassee to attend the inauguration of Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023. Book’s lawyer argues a new state law should be applied retroactively, a move that would prevent the county’s Ethics Commission from pursuing the complaint. The new law adds time limits to the length of ethics investigations, requires sworn affidavits to launch complaints, and bans second-hand knowledge from being used in investigations.

Florida – In Miami-Dade, Christian Ulvert Helps Candidates win Elections and Developers Win Deals

Yahoo News – Douglas Hanks (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/1/2024

Christian Ulvert became prominent in local political circles for his work running campaigns for Democratic candidates in Miami-Dade County. Though not a registered lobbyist, he also works as a communications consultant for private-sector clients, advising developers and others seeking favorable decisions from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and favorable votes from the county commission, where Ulvert has three campaign clients. The two sides of Ulvert’s business give him an enviable advantage as a paid consultant.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Will Hear Louisiana Map Case That Could Impact Black Voters

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a complex dispute over how Louisiana draws congressional maps that could affect the power of Black voters in the state and the balance of power in Congress. The case will not impact the 2024 election since it will not be decided for months, but legal experts said it could have significant ramifications for how states consider race in drawing congressional districts to comply with the Voting Rights Act and therefore could impact future elections.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Tells State Racing Commission Director He Can Still Own Racehorses – for Now

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/5/2024

The Board of Ethics told the state’s new racing commission executive director that his racehorses can continue to compete in Louisiana, at least until he needs a new license in 2026. Stephen Landry became the Louisiana Racing Commission’s top staff member in March after Gov. Jeff Landry appointed new members to the board. Stephen Landry, who is not related to the governor, owns a third of two racehorses and half of another.

Louisiana – Private Calls and Campaign Cash: Louisiana regulators’ ties to the utilities they oversee

Yahoo News – Pam Radtke, Mario Alejandro Ariza, and Miranda Green (Floodlight) | Published: 11/3/2024

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) is one of the few in the nation where there are no restrictions on when, where, and how often commissioners can communicate with the utilities they regulate. Residents and small businesses have almost no sway over the PSC, compared to utilities and big industrial power customers, said Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. Over the last decade, nearly 43 percent, or about $3.5 million, of $250 and over campaign contributions to Louisiana commissioners came from utilities, energy-related businesses, and their attorneys and lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmaker Asks AG to Investigate Ethics Board Over Alleged Open Meetings Violation

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/6/2024

State Rep. Beau Beaullieu is asking the attorney general to investigate the Louisiana Board of Ethics for violations of government transparency laws. He alleges the ethics board is using an illegitimate and secretive process to hire a new state ethics administrator, the board’s most important employee. Republican legislative leaders had asked the board in October to hold off on picking a new administrator until January, when most of the board will be stacked with new appointees from Gov. Jeff Landry and the Legislature.

Maine – ‘A Recusal Issue Inside a Recusal Issue’: An ethics inquiry puts the Maine Supreme Court in uncharted territory

Maine Monitor – James Keefe | Published: 11/3/2024

State Supreme Judicial Court Justice Catherine Connors is facing disciplinary proceedings, a first for a sitting Maine high court justice, because she did not recuse herself from two foreclosure appeals before the court. While Connors could be the first Maine justice to be disciplined, two different committees of legal experts disagreed on whether her recusal was necessary.

Maine – Mainers Vote to Reform Campaign Finance, Open Path for Supreme Court to Weigh In

Maine Morning Star – Emma Davis | Published: 11/6/2024

Maine voters passed Question 1, which would limit individuals and other entities to contributing $5,000 per year to PACs that make independent expenditures for or against candidates. These donations are currently unlimited under state law. Question 1 is likely to face legal challenges. Representatives of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections worry it is a long shot at best and, at worst, could open an opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to instead loosen campaign finance restrictions.

Massachusetts – MassLandlords Sues Boston, Says City Withheld Public Records to Protect Mayor Wu, Hide Unlawful Rent Control Lobbying

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 11/4/2024

A trade association for Massachusetts landlords is in a legal battle with Boston over public records it says the city withheld to hide unlawful lobbying from housing advocates that influenced the mayor’s stalled rent control plan. Douglas Quattrochi, executive director of MassLandlords, alleges in an affidavit that the city failed to produce 10 documents he believes to exist around the formation of the city’s Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee.

Mississippi – Jackson Bribery Scandal: Mayor Lumumba indicted, calls it ‘political prosecution’

MSN – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 11/6/2024

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba was indicted by a federal grand jury in a bribery scandal. City Councilperson Angelique Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in August, after accepting bribes from two undercover FBI agents posed as Nashville real estate developers. Court documents show Lumumba directed a city employee to move up a deadline for the city’s hotel project near the Jackson Convention Complex. Lumumba agreed to move the deadline after accepting $10,000 for his “reelection committee,” which was given to him as a check to hide the real source of the funding – the Nashville “developers.”

Nevada – Nevada Politicians Can Spend Donor Cash Outside the Campaign

Las Vegas Review-Journal – Eli Segall | Published: 11/4/2024

When Joe Lombardo gave $5,000 from his campaign account to a PAC, the future Nevada governor thought he was helping pay for the statue of a fallen Las Vegas police officer. The money was instead used by former Las Vegas Councilperson Michele Fiore to pay her rent. Fiore was recently convicted of wire fraud for diverting contributions to personal use, though donations like Lombardo’s, which came into focus during Fiore’s trial, are legal in Nevada.

New Hampshire – A New Campaign Finance Law Is Allowing Record-Breaking Spending in NH Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Ethan DeWitt (New Hampshire Bulletin) | Published: 11/1/2024

In her quest for the New Hampshire governor’s office, Kelly Ayotte is breaking financial records. As of October 30, the former U.S. senator has raised $21 million into her personal campaign fund since running for the office and spent nearly $19 million of it. Seventy percent comes from a single PAC and none of those transactions can be traced to individual donors. The strategy is the direct result of a 2023 law that removes limits on donations to candidates from PACs. And after recent validation from the attorney general’s office, the Ayotte campaign’s application of the law could become common practice in future elections.

New Mexico – Federal Judge Halts ‘De Facto’ Ban on Use of Campaign Funds; State Senator Ortiz y Pino Donated $200 for Student Workshop

Yahoo News – Colleen Heild (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 11/1/2024

New Mexico Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino tapped his campaign account in 2021 to make a $200 donation for a high school student’s summer workshop. The expenditure was subsequently deemed illegal under the state’s Campaign Reporting Act, but a federal judge decided the ban on charitable donations to individuals was itself problematic. District Court Judge Margaret Strickland halted, at least for now, any enforcement of the provision by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

New York – NYC Mayor Eric Adams Gets April 2025 Trial Date as His Lawyers Fight to Get Bribery Charge Tossed

MSN – Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 11/2/2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption trial will begin April 21, 2025, a judge ruled, right in the thick of his promised reelection campaign. Adams’ lawyers are fighting to throw out a bribery charge, one of five counts against the first-term mayor. They argued the charge does not meet the U.S. Supreme Court’s recently narrowed threshold for the crime and should not apply to Adams because it involves allegations dating to before he became mayor.

New York – Eric Adams Aide Overrode Internal Scoring System to Award Contract to Major Donor

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 10/30/2024

A close friend of New York City Mayor Eric Adams disregarded an official scoring system for a bidding process he oversaw through his role controlling municipal real estate deals. Instead that friend, Jesse Hamilton, overruled the process altogether and steered a lucrative contract away from the initial winner and to a major mayoral donor. Hamilton’s role in the deal was the subject of a city council hearing as lawmakers grilled his boss about that and other suspected corruption at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

Ohio – Issue 1 Fails Big in Ohio Despite Massive Money Advantage

MSN – Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 11/6/2024

Ohio voters rejected Issue 1, choosing to stick with the status quo instead of setting up a new citizen commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Ohio will continue to use its current redistricting method led by state lawmakers and a commission of seven elected officials. Ohio will keep its current state legislative maps through 2030 but the congressional map, approved without Democratic support, will be redrawn next year for the 2026 election.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Judge Denies Attempt to Stop Musk’s $1 Million Voter Giveaways

MSN – Trisha Thadani and Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Elon Musk’s pro-Donald Trump political group can continue for now with its $1 million a day giveaway to voters, after a state judge in Philadelphia denied an attempt by the city’s district attorney to block it. Judge Angelo Foglietta declined to issue an injunction against America PAC. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed the suit against Musk and his super PAC, alleging the daily $1 million giveaways violated state laws regulating lotteries and protecting consumers.

Rhode Island – Facing Questions, McKee Pays Lobbyist for Legal Help with ILO Probe

MSN – Eli Sherman (WPRI) | Published: 11/4/2024

Gov. Dan McKee’s has now paid a powerful statehouse lobbyist he hired earlier this year to help him navigate an ethics investigation amid questions about a potential conflict-of-interest. Gubernatorial spokesperson Laura Hart said the governor paid Dome Consultants lobbyist William Murphy an undisclosed amount of money. McKee hired the influential lobbyist as private counsel to advise him on how to handle a request from the attorney general’s office for an interview as a criminal probe into the state contract was coming to close.

Texas – U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar Secures Another Term as Criminal Trial Looms

Yahoo News – Matthew Choi (Texas Tribune) | Published: 11/6/2024

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar secured an 11th term representing his South Texas congressional district despite a federal indictment accusing him of a litany of corruption allegations. He and his family are synonymous with political power in Laredo, whose airport has a terminal that bears his name. Cuellar faces a criminal trial after the Justice Department indicted him on a series of charges alleging bribery, money laundering, and working on behalf of the Azerbaijani government and a Mexican bank.

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Mainers Vote to Reform Campaign Finance, Open Path for Supreme Court to Weigh In” by Emma Davis for Maine Morning Star

Elections

Delaware: “Sarah McBride Wins Delaware Congressional Seat, Becomes First Transgender Rep in US History” by Xerxes Wilson (Delaware News Journal) for MSN

National: “Republicans Take Back Senate Control” by Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “States Projected to Approve Measures Restricting Noncitizens from Voting” by Patrick Marley, Praveena Somasundaram, and Nick Miroff (Washington Post) for MSN

Texas: “U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar Secures Another Term as Criminal Trial Looms” by Matthew Choi (Texas Tribune) for Yahoo News

Ethics

California: “Measure OO: Effort to beef up Oakland’s public ethics commission leads comfortably” by Kiley Russell (Bay City News Service) for Local News Matters

Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Tells State Racing Commission Director He Can Still Own Racehorses – for Now” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

National: “Trump’s Win Is a Huge Legal Victory, too. His Trials Will Mostly Vanish.” by Shayna Jacobs, Perry Stein, Holly Bailey, and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

Redistricting

Ohio: “Issue 1 Fails Big in Ohio Despite Massive Money Advantage” by Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Campaign Finance Laws Make Funding of Election Challenges Murky” by Kiera Riley for Arizona Capitol Times

Louisiana: “Private Calls and Campaign Cash: Louisiana regulators’ ties to the utilities they oversee” by Pam Radtke, Mario Alejandro Ariza, and Miranda Green (Floodlight) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “Donald Trump Wins Presidential Election, Defeating Harris to Retake White House” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Former Huizar Associate Sentenced to Six Months Home Detention” by City News Service for The Eastsider LA

National: “Nearly a Decade After Pleading Guilty, ‘Fat Leonard’ Is Sentenced in Massive Navy Bribery Scandal” by Alex Riggins (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

Maine: “‘A Recusal Issue Inside a Recusal Issue’: An ethics inquiry puts the Maine Supreme Court in uncharted territory” by James Keefe for Maine Monitor

Lobbying

Colorado: “Xcel Energy Ordered to Remove Investor Relations and Executive Salaries from Costs Passed on to Colorado Consumers” by Mark Jaffe for Colorado Sun

Procurement

Washington DC: “Contractor at Center of Bribery Scandal Dropped from Sports Gambling Deal” by Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

California: “Mark Farrell Agrees to $108K Ethics Penalty – Largest in S.F. History” by Jose Rivano Barrs and Kelly Waldron for Mission Local

Nevada: “Nevada Politicians Can Spend Donor Cash Outside the Campaign” by Eli Segall for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New Mexico: “Federal Judge Halts ‘De Facto’ Ban on Use of Campaign Funds; State Senator Ortiz y Pino Donated $200 for Student Workshop” by Colleen Heild (Albuquerque Journal) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Judge Denies Attempt to Stop Musk’s $1 Million Voter Giveaways” by Trisha Thadani and Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) for MSN

Elections

National: “What’s in Your TikTok Feed? As Elections Near, It May Depend on Gender.” by Jeremy Merrill, Cristano Lima-Strong, and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

New York: “NYC Mayor Eric Adams Gets April 2025 Trial Date as His Lawyers Fight to Get Bribery Charge Tossed” by Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) for MSN

Lobbying

Massachusetts: “MassLandlords Sues Boston, Says City Withheld Public Records to Protect Mayor Wu, Hide Unlawful Rent Control Lobbying” by Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) for MSN

Redistricting

Louisiana: “Supreme Court Will Hear Louisiana Map Case That Could Impact Black Voters” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “CT’s Election Watchdog Agency Is Investigating 214 Cases, One Going Back 10 Years. What’s Taking So Long?” by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Ken Dixon for Stamford Advocate

National: “Court Ruling Threatens to Curb Billions in Political ‘Dark Money'” by Richard Rubin and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

New Hampshire: “A New Campaign Finance Law Is Allowing Record-Breaking Spending in NH Governor’s Race” by Ethan DeWitt (New Hampshire Bulletin) for Yahoo News

Elections

Pennsylvania: “Supreme Court Allows Pennsylvania Voters to Fix Faulty Absentee Ballots” by Justin Jouvenal and Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Florida: “A Lobbyist Was Cited by the Ethics Commission; Now He’s Suing and Wants to Clear His Name” by Mike Diamond (Palm Beach Post) for MSN

Florida: “In Miami-Dade, Christian Ulvert Helps Candidates win Elections and Developers Win Deals” by Douglas Hanks (Miami Herald) for Yahoo News

Rhode Island: “McKee Hasn’t Paid Powerful Lobbyist for Legal Help with ILO Investigation” by Eli Sherman for MSN

Procurement

New York: “Eric Adams Aide Overrode Internal Scoring System to Award Contract to Major Donor” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

An Ethical Minefield Awaits a Possible Second Trump Presidency

DNyuz – Ben Protess, Maggie Haberman, and Eric Lipton (New York Times) | Published: 10/29/2024

Days before Donald Trump became president in 2017, he promised to rein in his company’s freewheeling ways, assuring the American people his family business would not “take advantage of” his presidency. Nearly eight years later, he is making no such promises. The former and possibly future president is cashing in on a variety of new ventures as he seeks a second term, without offering to reinstate the guardrails from his first, according to financial filings and interviews with people familiar with his finances.

In Election’s Final Days, Dark Money and ‘Gray Money’ Fund Hidden Agendas

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 10/30/2024

Across the country, supporters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are taking advantage of a patchwork of lax laws that allow partisans to funnel millions of dollars through daisy chains of opaque entities into hard-hitting campaign tactics, all to try to sway the tiny slice of swing-state voters who could make the difference. Campaign operatives and donors have long deployed creative accounting to mask the flow of money into politics. But since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, it has become particularly difficult to follow the big-money flow in the weeks before Election Day.

Ethics Office Clears Federal Official for His Project 2025 Involvement

Government Executive – Eric Katz | Published: 10/25/2024

The federal government’s ethics czar said a top official at the Federal Communications Commission did not violate any laws or agreements when he helped write a chapter of Project 2025, the controversial document spearheaded by former Trump administration officials to outline agenda items for the Republican presidential nominee. More than a dozen House Democrats requested a probe into whether Carr violated ethics laws, noting the ties between Project 2025 and Trump and its stated goal of shaping policy decisions by presidential candidates.

The New Dark Money: How influencers get paid big bucks to court your vote

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2024

Political campaigns and their surrogates are pouring millions of dollars into social media influencers with scant regulatory oversight or public transparency, as they embrace a marketing tactic that has revolutionized the U.S. economy. Online influencers earning thousands of dollars for a single TikTok or Instagram post on behalf of groups backing Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. Political groups that use other forms of advertising are required to disclose their affiliations, but freelance online creators are under no such obligation for political posts, even though federal regulations demand they say so when promoting a commercial product.

Elon Musk’s Pro-Trump PAC Awards More $1 Million Prizes Despite DOJ Warning

MSN – Perry Stein, Trisha Thadani, and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2024

Elon Musk’s pro-Donald Trump political group awarded two additional $1 million prizes to swing-state voters despite warnings from the Justice Department the daily giveaways could violate election laws. The day before, the Justice Department sent a letter to America PAC, warning its contest offering registered voters in swing states a chance to win $1 million for signing a petition supporting free speech and the right to bear arms could be illegal.

GOP Focus on Rare Noncitizen Voting May Continue Long After Election Day

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2024

Eight states, including the swing state of North Carolina, are taking up ballot measures also that would toughen bans on noncitizen voting, part of a broad and concerted Republican effort to stoke fears that hordes of noncitizens will illegally vote for Kamala Harris and deprive Donald Trump of a return to the White House. While that could inspire more Trump supporters to show up to the polls, voting rights activists warn the emphasis on removing noncitizens from the voter rolls could scare away recently naturalized citizens or eligible voters who have family members who are in the country illegally.

Spanish-Language Election Misinformation Has a Mass Audience – and a Long Shelf Life

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Adriana Usero (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2024

Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. and the fastest-growing segment of the American electorate. They stand to play a crucial role in the coming election for president and control of Congress, particularly in key states such as Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Latinos face misinformation from political actors at home and abroad. Specific storylines can resonate differently depending on a person’s cultural background. Certain social media habits place Latinos who consume at least some of their news in Spanish, regardless of national origin, in an especially difficult position when confronting efforts to mislead.

At Trump’s Request, Judge Delays Immunity Filing in Jan. 6 Prosecution

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 10/28/2024

A federal judge granted the request from Donald Trump’s lawyers to push back the deadline for filing their view of whether the former president is immune from prosecution in the2020 election subversion case until two weeks after the presidential election. Trump’s attorneys asked to have until November 21, instead of November 7, to file a brief arguing why Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory should be immune from criminal prosecution, citing disruptions caused by Hurricane Milton to the work of several of Trump’s Florida-based attorneys.

Congress Tried to Fix Presidential Transitions. Trump Is Testing the Changes.

MSN – Lisa Rein and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 10/31/2024

After Donald Trump refused to concede the 2020 election, Congress moved to fend off a repeat of the 20 days of chaos that had obstructed the executive branch handover to Joe Biden. But the first test of one little-known change to the presidential transition process is now causing anxiety among government officials as Trump is potentially poised to return to power. If there is no apparent winner within five days of the election, every federal agency will be required on November 11 to open its doors to both Trump’s and Kamala Harris’s campaigns so they can simultaneously begin the sprint to install a new administration.

Election Day Poses Test for Justice Dept. Monitors in GOP-Led States

MSN – David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2024

The Justice Department’s ability to monitor local jurisdictions for voting rights irregularities on Election Day, already curtailed by the Supreme Court, is facing a new hurdle: opposition from Republicans who are seeking to block federal authorities from polling sites. While the Justice Department has the legal right to request access to polling sites, inflamed partisanship and ideological extremism has contributed to greater resistance to such activities in some GOP-controlled states, legal experts said. Those states have attempted to politicize the process and cast federal monitors as partisans from the Biden administration who cannot be trusted.

For Jeff Bezos and His Businesses, Washington Has Become More Important

MSN – Isaac Stanley-Becker, Aaron Davis, Josh Dawsey, and Christian Davenport (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2024

Jeff Bezos’s interests in Washington have expanded, with the federal government now contracting billions of dollars to Amazon’s cloud-computing subsidiary and Blue Origin, which is competing with SpaceX, the company founded by Donald Trump ally Elon Musk. Bezos has faced backlash since The Washington Post announced its editorial board would not endorse a candidate in this presidential election or in future ones. Commentators and a deluge of readers who canceled their subscriptions said they saw Bezos as upending a decades-old tradition to protect business interests that could be vulnerable in a second Trump administration.

Fires Set in Drop Boxes Destroy Hundreds of Ballots in Washington and Damage 3 in Oregon

Yahoo News – Gene Johnson and Claire Rush (Associated Press) | Published: 10/28/2024

Incendiary devices were set off at two ballot drop boxes, one in Portland and another in nearby Vancouver, Washington, destroying hundreds of ballots in what one official called a “direct attack on democracy” about a week before Election Day. The fire at the drop box in Portland was extinguished quickly and just three ballots were damaged there. The ballot box in Vancouver had a fire suppression system inside, but that failed to prevent hundreds of ballots from burning, said Greg Kimsey, the auditor in Clark County, Washington.

They Were Lobbying on Legislation Before His Committee. They Were Also Employing His Son.

Yahoo News – Benjamin Guggenheim (Politico) | Published: 10/24/2024

Rep. Richard Neal became chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee in January 2019. A year later, his son Brendan Neal launched a one-person public affairs firm. Then the payments started from Richard E. Neal for Congress Committee to Brendan Neal Strategies for “strategic consulting services,” which now total more than $196,000. Brendan Neal’s cash haul from working for his father’s campaign while representing others with interests before the committee heightens concerns for liberal tax policy advocates and led some to publicly voice their concerns about Richard Neal.

AIPAC Has Paid for Hundreds of Lawmakers to Visit Israel – to Grow Support for Its Far-Right Government

Yahoo News – Aidan Hughes, Cait Kelley, and Daryl Perry (Politico) | Published: 10/30/2024

The nonprofit arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has hosted hundreds of trips to Israel for U.S. lawmakers. AIPAC is one of the most influential lobbyist organizations on K Street and promotes the Israeli government’s agenda. Now, as lawmakers face pressure from both sides on U.S. aid to Israel.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Campaign Finance Watchdog Recommends $85K in Fines Against Opponents of Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting System

Yahoo News – Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 10/24/2024

The Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) found backers of a ballot initiative to alter the state’s voting system repeatedly violated campaign finance law by funneling their money through a church and inaccurately reporting their income and spending. The commission fined the backers more than $94,000 in January. APOC staff said the groups and individuals failed to pay the full fines levied against them and have not fulfilled the campaign reporting requirements spelled out by the commission.

Arizona – Arizona’s Ballot Is So Long It Could Create Election Day Problems

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Blair Guild (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2024

The ballot in Arizona this year is long. Very long. In Maricopa County, home to a majority of voters, there are full lists of the presidential electors from four parties, judges seeking to retain their seats, and 13 statewide ballot questions on abortion, taxes, illegal immigration, and a host of other issues. Election officials across the state worry this unusually long ballot could lead to a host of problems on and after Election Day in the key state that could determine the outcome of the presidential election.

California – California Mental Health Agency Director to Resign Following Conflict of Interest Allegations

California Healthline – Molly Castle Work (KFF Health News) | Published: 10/25/2024

California’s mental health commission announced its executive director would resign amid revelations he traveled to the United Kingdom courtesy of a state vendor while he sought to prevent a budget cut that would have defunded the company’s contract. Documents show Toby Ewing tried to protect state funding for Kooth, a London-based digital mental health company with a contract to develop a virtual tool to help California tackle its youth mental health crisis.

California – State Watchdog Agency Is Investigating Donations to Kevin de León’s Reelection Campaign

Los Angeles Times – Dakota Smith | Published: 10/26/2024

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating donations received by Los Angeles City Councilperson Kevin de León’s reelection campaign. The investigation was prompted by allegations involving a nonprofit that distributes food to homebound seniors and low-income families in De León’s district through a contract with the city. The complaint alleged contributions to De León’s campaign from employees of the nonprofit, as well as its founder’s wife and daughter, may have violated a law that aims to prevent “pay to play practices.”

California – L.A. County Wants to Crack Down on Corruption. Is It Worth Up to $21 Million?

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/28/2024

The city and county of Los Angeles each moved forward this election season with ballot measures to try to crack down on unethical behavior by public officials. The city wants to bolster its nearly 35-year-old ethics commission with Charter Amendment ER, which would give the watchdog body a minimum yearly budget of $7 million. The county wants to create its first ethics commission with Measure G, which could cost as much as $21.9 million a year, with salaries and employee benefits making up most of the price. The cost estimates have left supporters and detractors with sticker shock.

California – Some California Legislators Miss Hundreds of Votes, but Even ‘Excused’ Absences Count as a ‘No’

MSN – Sameea Kamal (CalMatters) | Published: 10/21/2024

Seven California Assembly members missed more than a quarter of their votes this year, most involving illness or family matters. When it comes to voting on bills, however, the Legislature does not distinguish between a lawmaker who is absent, excused or not, and a legislator who is present but does not vote. They all count the same as a legislator who casts a “no” vote, but they are categorized as “No Vote Recorded” or NVR.

California – No ‘Pattern of Corruption’ in Contracts Inked During Ridley-Thomas’ Tenure, Probe Finds

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/30/2024

The bulk of contracts Los Angeles County signed during the 12-year tenure of former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted last year on corruption charges, were untainted by fraud, according to an outside investigation. But the report said the county’s contracting process, closely scrutinized during the nearly three-year forensic audit, is full of holes.

California – What Does Another Corruption Scandal Mean for Orange County?

Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 10/24/2024

Former county Supervisor Andrew Do will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in a scheme that enriched his family anywhere from $550,000 to $730,000. The scandal comes a little more than two years after a federal corruption probe rocked Anaheim City Hall, one that saw former Mayor Harry Sidhu plead guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to federal investigators about trying to ram through the Angel Stadium sale for $1 million in campaign support.

Florida – Red Lights, Green Cash: How a Florida legislator boosted school bus cameras and benefited her family

MSN – Nandhini Srinivasan (The Tributary) | Published: 10/27/2024

Personal connections, aggressive lobbying, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions fueled the rapid rise of an obscure school bus camera vendor, BusPatrol, which quickly became a major player in a niche industry that did not exist in Florida until last year. BusPatrol’s fortunes echoes the comeback of Florida Rep. Vicki Lopez, with whom BusPatrol is inextricably linked. Last year, Lopez co-sponsored a bill allowing cameras on school buses statewide. Within months, her family had cashed in on the new industry through a web of connections built with BusPatrol, which stands to make millions of dollars from traffic tickets.

Florida – Long-Delayed Public Corruption Trial of Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Set to Begin

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 10/24/2024

After repeated delays since last Thanksgiving, the public corruption trial of one of Miami-Dade County’s longest-serving public servants began. Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez was suspended from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis in September 2022. Martinez is alleged to have collected $15,000 from a shopkeeper in his district in exchange for sponsoring a law that would have benefited the owner of the shopping plaza. The charges could land Martinez in prison for as many as 20 years.

Illinois – Hazy World of Springfield Politics at Center of Ex-Speaker Madigan’s Trial

MSN – Ray Long, Jason Meisner, and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/27/2024

In the rapidly unfolding federal corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, Illinoisans are getting a close-up view of how the longtime-Democratic chieftain lorded over the insider world of Springfield politics. Madigan and his lobbyist ally Michael McClain may be the center of the case. But in many ways, so is the opaque manner in which Springfield does business.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Plans to Pick New Administrator Before Landry Appointees Sworn In

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 10/29/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics plans to hire its new ethics administrator in December, just before Gov. Jeff Landry’s overhaul of the board membership takes place in January. The current administrator, Kathleen Allen, is leaving her job at the end of the year. Earlier this year, Landry pushed through a new law to give himself, as governor, more control over the board.

Mississippi – Court Rules Ballots That Arrive Late Shouldn’t Be Counted Despite Postmarks

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2024

A federal appeals court ruled invalid a Mississippi law that allows election officials to count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day as long as they are postmarked by then. The ruling came less than two weeks before the presidential election and could have implications for other states with similar laws. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit did not rule on how the state should handle ballots for this election, saying that matter should be addressed later by a trial court judge.

Mississippi – How an FBI Corruption Probe in Tallahassee Is Similar to the Jackson, MS Bribery Scandal

Yahoo News – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) | Published: 10/29/2024

In 2015, two undercover FBI agents posed as crooked developers and infiltrated Tallahassee City Hall by offering bribes to elected officials in exchange for their support in favor of the developers for coveted real estate projects. That undercover FBI investigation into the city government in Tallahassee, Florida, offers striking similarities to Jackson’s ongoing bribery scandal. Both concern alleged bribes from “developers” to elected officials. Like Jackson, Tallahassee is a state capital.

New York – Harlem Woman Charged by Bragg in Adams Campaign Straw Donor Scheme Pleads Guilty

Gothamist – Samantha Max | Published: 10/29/2024

A woman accused of recruiting elderly residents of her housing complex to give illegal donations to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Millicent Redick is not expected to face any jail time, as long as she follows the court’s conditions, the plea agreement states. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Redick and five other people with allegedly conspiring to collect donations from people who would later be reimbursed, also known as straw donations.

New York – Former New York Budget Chief Robert Mujica’s Consulting Sparks Revolving Door Questions

New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/29/2024

Former state budget director Robert Mujica’s consulting work for a powerful hospital lobbying group this year raised questions about his adherence to a law seeking to limit the “revolving door” between public servants and outside interests. New financial disclosures show Mujica began consulting for the Greater New York Hospital Association two months ahead of its multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase Medicaid spending, and before the group held multiple lobbying meetings with Mujica’s former agency, the Division of the Budget.

New York – A New York Medical Group Fills Politicians’ Coffers. This House Republican Is Helping to Promote Them.

Yahoo News – Emily Ngo (Politico) | Published: 10/28/2024

U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, who is facing a tough reelection fight, starred recently in a promotional video for a cancer treatment practice around the same time he took in a generous batch of campaign donations from its doctors. LaLota praised the “upbeat spirit” at the New York Cancer & Blood Specialists in a spot posted within days of affiliated physicians and a related PAC contributing $18,000 to his reelection bid. They also gave $130,000 to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Grow the Majority committee, half of which then went to LaLota.

Ohio – Ex-Columbus Zoo Exec, Dubbed ‘Most Egregious’ Offender in $2.3 Million Theft, Sentenced

MSN – Dean Narciso (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 10/28/2024

The last of five former employees of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was sentenced to five years in prison, ending a four-year investigation into a nearly $2.3 million theft scheme. A judge also ordered restitution of $639,297 and a $10,000 fine from Peter Fingerhut, the zoo’s former marketing director. Fingerhut was considered one of the masterminds of a decade-long theft spree. He set up VIP ticket contracts for himself and his family at sports and entertainment venues intended for zoo promotional use, among other schemes.

Ohio – Cincinnati Paid $11.5K for Signs Crediting Biden-Harris for Road Projects. Critics Say They’re Political

WCPO – Paula Christian | Published: 10/29/2024

Cincinnati officials spent $11,500 on five signs that critics say are political and were initially proposed to come down the day after Election Day. The signs credit President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with upcoming road projects that received funding from a bipartisan infrastructure law. They were originally supposed to credit only Biden. But before the signs were installed, city officials decided to add Harris’s name after she became the Democratic presidential candidate.

Ohio – Ohio Supreme Court: Attorney general can’t reject proposed constitutional amendments based on title

Yahoo News – Susan Tebben (Ohio Capital Journal) | Published: 10/30/2024

The Ohio Supreme Court spelled out the authority the state attorney general has when it comes to approving or rejecting constitutional amendment initiatives in a new ruling. The court ruled unanimously that Attorney General Dave Yost should not have rejected the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights proposal based on the title of the initiative.

Pennsylvania – Judge Strikes Down GOP Effort to Change Rules Over Military, Overseas Ballots

MSN – Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2024

A federal judge in Pennsylvania threw out a lawsuit brought by six Republican members of Congress from the state that sought stricter scrutiny of ballots from overseas, including from members of the military stationed abroad. The lawmakers claimed that because local election officials in Pennsylvania are not required to verify the identity or eligibility of voters who register overseas, those ballots are vulnerable to fraud.

Rhode Island – Investigation Finds Insufficient Evidence to Prosecute McKee for Influencing Award of ILO Contract

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 10/29/2024

State Attorney General Peter Neronha rebuked Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee over a state contract awarded to ILO Group but found there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges in the matter. ILO was one of the top two bidders seeking a federally funded contract to help schools meet COVID-19 safety protocols. The attorney general’s investigation centered around state bribery law, which requires prosecutors to show a quid pro quo occurred and benefited a state official in a personal or political capacity.

Tennessee – State Campaign Finance Agency Demands Transparency from Nashville’s Pro-Transit Campaign

Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 10/30/2024

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance sent a letter to Nashville Moves Action Fund ordering them to register as a referendum committee by Election Day and submit financial disclosure reports as soon as possible. Nashville residents will decide on November 5 whether to establish a dedicated source of funding for transit improvements. The pro-transit campaign registered with the state under the Green Lights for Nashville PAC. Green Lights for Nashville filings show all of its cash donations came from one place: Nashville Moves Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. These sorts of nonprofits usually do not have to identify their donors.

Virginia – Supreme Court Allows Virginia Effort to Strike Possible Noncitizen Voters

MSN – Ann Marimow and Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2024

A divided U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Virginia officials to remove about 1,600 voters from the state’s registration rolls less than one week before the presidential election. Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked the justices to intervene after two lower courts blocked his efforts to cancel the registrations of voters who could be noncitizens, an issue that Republican officials have seized on nationally to energize supporters even though noncitizen voting is extremely rare.

Virginia – Lack of Investigation by Local, State Officials into Richmond Campaign’s Finance Reporting Raises Concern

WTVR – Tyler Lane | Published: 10/24/2024

The campaign for a Richmond City Council candidate has reported thousands of dollars in donations from people who said they have never contributed any money, but no government official or agency said they were investigating the situation. The responses from local and state officials are raising questions about the role of finances in politics and the mechanisms for accountability, and some advocates and experts believe Virginia’s campaign reporting laws are not strong enough.

Washington – Campaign Watchdog Won’t Reconsider Penalty Against Let’s Go Washington

Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard) | Published: 10/25/2024

Let’s Go Washington will not get another shot at convincing the state Public Disclosure Commission it did not violate campaign finance laws. Commissioners said they would not reconsider their October 9 ruling that the political committee failed to obtain and disclose information on payments to subvendors used by firms it hired to gather signatures for a slate of initiatives, including the four on the November ballot.

Campaign Finance

National: “In Election’s Final Days, Dark Money and ‘Gray Money’ Fund Hidden Agendas” by Theodore Schleifer and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

National: “Fires Set in Drop Boxes Destroy Hundreds of Ballots in Washington and Damage 3 in Oregon” by Gene Johnson and Claire Rush (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Judge Strikes Down GOP Effort to Change Rules Over Military, Overseas Ballots” by Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “Supreme Court Allows Virginia Effort to Strike Possible Noncitizen Voters” by Ann Marimow and Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “For Jeff Bezos and His Businesses, Washington Has Become More Important” by Isaac Stanley-Becker, Aaron Davis, Josh Dawsey, and Christian Davenport (Washington Post) for MSN

Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Plans to Pick New Administrator Before Landry Appointees Sworn In” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

Rhode Island: “Investigation Finds Insufficient Evidence to Prosecute McKee for Influencing Award of ILO Contract” by Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “AIPAC Has Paid for Hundreds of Lawmakers to Visit Israel – to Grow Support for Its Far-Right Government” by Aidan Hughes, Cait Kelley, and Daryl Perry (Politico) for Yahoo News

Procurement

California: “No ‘Pattern of Corruption’ in Contracts Inked During Ridley-Thomas’ Tenure, Probe Finds” by Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona’s Ballot Is So Long It Could Create Election Day Problems” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Blair Guild (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Spanish-Language Election Misinformation Has a Mass Audience – and a Long Shelf Life” by Sarah Ellison and Adriana Usero (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “L.A. County Wants to Crack Down on Corruption. Is It Worth Up to $21 Million?” by Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “An Ethical Minefield Awaits a Possible Second Trump Presidency” by Ben Protess, Maggie Haberman, and Eric Lipton (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “At Trump’s Request, Judge Delays Immunity Filing in Jan. 6 Prosecution” by Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Former New York Budget Chief Robert Mujica’s Consulting Sparks Revolving Door Questions” by Chris Bragg for New York Focus

Ohio: “Ex-Columbus Zoo Exec, Dubbed ‘Most Egregious’ Offender in $2.3 Million Theft, Sentenced” by Dean Narciso (Columbus Dispatch) for MSN

Legislative Issues

California: “Some California Legislators Miss Hundreds of Votes, but Even ‘Excused’ Absences Count as a ‘No'” by Sameea Kamal (CalMatters) for MSN

Campaign Finance

California: “State Watchdog Agency Is Investigating Donations to Kevin de León’s Reelection Campaign” by Dakota Smith for Los Angeles Times

National: “The New Dark Money: How influencers get paid big bucks to court your vote” by Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “A New York Medical Group Fills Politicians’ Coffers. This House Republican Is Helping to Promote Them.” by Emily Ngo (Politico) for Yahoo News

Elections

Mississippi: “Court Rules Ballots That Arrive Late Shouldn’t Be Counted Despite Postmarks” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “GOP Focus on Rare Noncitizen Voting May Continue Long After Election Day” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “California Mental Health Agency Director to Resign Following Conflict of Interest Allegations” by Molly Castle Work (KFF Health News) for California Healthline

Florida: “Red Lights, Green Cash: How a Florida legislator boosted school bus cameras and benefited her family” by Nandhini Srinivasan (The Tributary) for MSN

Illinois: “Hazy World of Springfield Politics at Center of Ex-Speaker Madigan’s Trial” by Ray Long, Jason Meisner, and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “Campaign Finance Watchdog Recommends $85K in Fines Against Opponents of Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting System” by Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) for Yahoo News

Virginia: “Lack of Investigation by Local, State Officials into Richmond Campaign’s Finance Reporting Raises Concern” by Tyler Lane for WTVR

Washington: “Campaign Watchdog Won’t Reconsider Penalty Against Let’s Go Washington” by Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “Washington Post in Turmoil After Opting Against 2024 Presidential Endorsement” by Alexandra Bruell, Dana Mattioli, and Jeffrey Trachtenberg (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

National: “Elon Musk’s Pro-Trump PAC Awards More $1 Million Prizes Despite DOJ Warning” by Perry Stein, Trisha Thadani, and Amy Wang (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “Federal Judge Bars Virginia from Purging Voters in Election’s Home Stretch” by Salvador Rizzo, Tom Jackman, and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “What Does Another Corruption Scandal Mean for Orange County?” by Spencer Custodio for Voice of OC

Lobbying

National: “They Were Lobbying on Legislation Before His Committee. They Were Also Employing His Son.” by Benjamin Guggenheim (Politico) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

How Elderly Dementia Patients Are Unwittingly Fueling Political Campaigns

CNN – Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Audrey Ash, Kyung Lah, Anna-Maja Rappard, Casey Tolan, Lou Robinson, and Brian Manley | Published: 10/22/2024

More than 1,000 reports filed with government agencies and consumer advocacy groups reviewed by CNN, along with an analysis of campaign finance data and interviews with dozens of contributors and their family members, show how deceptive political fundraisers have victimized hundreds of elderly Americans and misled those battling dementia or other cognitive impairments into giving away millions of dollars, far more than they ever intended. Some unintentionally joined the ranks of the top grassroots political donors in the country as they tapped into retirement savings and went into debt.

Federal Court Nominees’ Stays at Trump Hotel Pose Murky Ethical Dilemma

Courthouse News Service – Benjamin Weiss | Published: 10/22/2024

A report from House Democrats detailing possible violations of the Constitution’s presidential emoluments clause may also raise unexplored questions about judicial ethics. Lawmakers cited more than a dozen people, including ambassadors, state government officials, and people seeking presidential pardons, who spent thousands of dollars at Trump International Hotel during Donald Trump’s administration. Among those hotel guests were three of Trump’s judicial nominees, all of whom Democrats say stayed at Trump’s property while they were seeking his nomination to the bench.

U.S. Officials Say Russia Smeared Tim Walz, Might Stoke Post-Vote Violence

MSN – Joseph Menn and David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2024

Intelligence officials said Russians seeking to disrupt the U.S. elections created a faked video and other material smearing Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz with abuse allegations and are considering fomenting violence during and after the vote. The faked content accused Walz of inappropriate interactions with students while a teacher and coach. The posts drew millions of views on social media, falsely tarring the Minnesota governor ahead of November 5.

A New Washington Influence Industry Is Making Millions from Sanctions

MSN – Jeff Stein, Federica Cocco, and Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2024

A sharp increase in U.S. sanctions has spawned a new lobbying industry in Washington, as businesses and governments around the world attempt to shape these economic penalties by hiring former American officials to leverage their connections. An avalanche of cash from abroad has flowed to former lawmakers and aides from both parties with experience at some of the highest levels of the government. Foreign spending on sanctions-related lobbying has surged from roughly $6 million in 2014 to at least $31 million in 2022, a more than fivefold increase that mirrors the rise in U.S. sanctions.

Why Are ABC Viewers Being Forced to See a Graphic Anti-Abortion Ad?

MSN – Jeremy Barr and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2024

Over the past weeks, ABC viewers across the country have been shown a graphic advertisement featuring images of aborted fetuses, as part of a campaign by anti-abortion rights advocate and long-shot presidential candidate Randall Terry. The ad has shocked viewers, who have taken to social media demanding to know why ABC would run it. But the network said it has no say in the matter. Because Terry is a candidate on the ballots in about a dozen states, ABC said it is bound by Federal Communications Commission rules to air the ad, unedited.

Judge Orders Giuliani to Forfeit Millions in Assets to Election Workers He Defamed

MSN – Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) | Published: 10/22/2024

A federal judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over most of his possessions and available cash to a receivership controlled by the two Georgia election workers he defamed after the last presidential election. Giuliani has seven days to make the transfer, which includes his New York apartment and his vintage Mercedes-Benz. The judge also ordered him to turn over certain pieces of furniture, his television, sports memorabilia, jewelry, and 26 watches, including one that Giuliani said his grandfather gave him.

Appendix of Source Materials Unsealed in Trump Jan. 6 Prosecution

MSN – Spencer Hsu, Perry Stein, and Aaron Blake (Washington Post) | Published: 10/18/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed the appendix of source materials underpinning special counsel Jack Smith’s legal filing that detailed the evidence collected against Donald Trump in the federal election interference case, though the document was heavily redacted and appeared to contain few new revelations. Trump’s legal team opposed making the materials public so soon, arguing that the release now could appear as though the court was trying to affect the upcoming election. But Chutkan said withholding the documents could amount to election interference.

Musk Promises a Daily $1 Million Lottery in Questionable Pro-Trump Effort

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 10/20/2024

Elon Musk announced he will give away $1 million each day to registered voters in battleground states who sign a petition put out by his super PAC’s voter recruitment drive. The plan also presents a special offer to voters in Pennsylvania: those who sign the petition will receive $100, and if they successfully convince another registered voter in the state to sign, they will receive another $100. Experts questioned the legality of the scheme because it ties a monetary reward to voter registration status, which is prohibited under federal law.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Judge Halts Alabama State Program Aimed at Determining Voter Eligibility

MSN – David Nakamura and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/16/2024

A federal judge halted an Alabama state program aimed at removing undocumented immigrants from voter rolls, siding with the Justice Department and civil rights groups who argued the effort came too close to election day and improperly included people eligible to cast a ballot. In her ruling, District Court Judge Anna Manasco said the state’s efforts, which officials said identified 3,281 people whose voting status would be inactivated, included thousands of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote and “far fewer noncitizens” who are ineligible.

Alaska – Alaska Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom Approves Campaign-Finance Ballot Measure for 2026 Vote

Alaska Beacon – James Brooks | Published: 10/18/2024

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom approved a ballot measure that would reimpose financial limits on candidates and donors. The measure now faces a statewide vote in 2026. Bruce Botelho, a former state attorney general who is one of three leading sponsors of the ballot measure, said he hopes for faster action. If the Alaska Legislature passes “substantially similar” legislation to the ballot measure, it will be removed from the 2026 vote.

Arizona – Arizona County Official Who Delayed Certifying Election Results Accepts Plea Deal

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2024

An Arizona Republican who helped inspire national concerns over county-level certification of the 2024 presidential election pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to a “failure or refusal” to perform her duty. Peggy Judd, who helps lead Cochise County, was indicted a year ago for allegedly flouting the state’s deadlines to formally accept the results of the 2022 midterm general election. State prosecutors asked that Judd serve unsupervised probation for 90 days, a period that extends through the certification process for the upcoming presidential election.

California – L.A. Times Editorials Editor Resigns After Owner Blocks Harris Endorsement

MSN – Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2024

The head of editorials at the Los Angeles Times, Mariel Garza, resigned after the newspaper’s billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong vetoed the editorial board’s planned endorsement of Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Newspapers generally have separate, independent departments for news and editorial writing, with the editorial side offering opinions on issues – including endorsements for political candidates – while the newsroom focuses on facts.

California – California Regulator Slams SoCalGas for Misusing Customer Funds to Fight Electrification

MSN – Ari Plachta (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 10/23/2024

Reports have shown Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) wrongfully spent millions of customer dollars in recent years to oppose California’s growing electrification policies. SoCalGas, the nation’s largest gas utility, denied those findings. Now, the California Public Utilities Commission acknowledged SoCalGas inappropriately used ratepayer funds to promote natural gas through lobbying, legal fees, and other efforts and issued new transparency measures to monitor its future political activities.

California – Supervisor Andrew Do Agrees to Plead Guilty in Federal Investigation, Resign from Board of Supervisors

MSN – Destiny Torres, Tony Saavedra, and Michael Slaten (Orange County Register) | Published: 10/22/2024

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and resign from the Board of Supervisors. Do admitted in his plea agreement that beginning in 2020 he received more than $550,000 in bribes to vote in favor of and direct COVID-related funds to the Viet America Society. He allocated the money without disclosing that his daughter worked and held leadership roles for the group. Instead of the funding going to meal programs, county District Attorney Todd said the money “filled the pockets of insiders, (Do), and … family members.”

California – How S.F.’s Former Dream Keeper Chief Used Her City Position to Boost Her Personal Brand

MSN – Michael Barba and St. John Barned-Smith (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/16/2024

Sheryl Davis, who resigned in September as head of San Francisco’s Dream Keeper Initiative amid reports of misspending and lax oversight, repeatedly used city resources to promote herself and a self-published children’s book, a media investigation found. Payments for a podcast and referrals to her personal website raise questions about whether Davis improperly used city resources, illustrating the blurred lines separating her career as a public official from her private life and ambitions as an author and public speaker.

California – Federal Judge Agrees to Dismiss Pending Charge Against Recology in San Francisco Bribery Case

Waste Dive – Cole Rosengren | Published: 10/18/2024

A federal judge agreed that Recology has satisfied the terms of its deferred prosecution agreement in San Francisco and granted a motion to dismiss a pending bribery charge against the company. Two former Recology executives – Paul Giusti, local director of government affairs, and John Porter, his supervisor and head of the SF Recology Group – were sentenced last year for their role in what the Justice Department described as “one of the largest corruption scandals in San Francisco history.”

Florida – ‘It’s the First Amendment, Stupid’: Federal judge blasts DeSantis administration for threats against TV stations

MSN – Liam Reilly and Brian Stelter (CNN) | Published: 10/17/2024

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker granted a temporary restraining order against Florida’s surgeon general after the state health department threatened to bring criminal charges against broadcasters airing an ad in support of a ballot measure that that seeks to overturn a six-week abortion ban by enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. “To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid,” wrote Walker.

Georgia – Georgia Supreme Court Refuses to Reinstate Hand-Count Rule in Time for Election Day

MSN – Aysha Bagchi (USA Today) | Published: 10/22/2024

The Georgia Supreme Court rejected a Republican request for a speedy appeal to get seven rules, including a requirement for thousands of poll workers to hand count ballots, reinstated in the final weeks before the election. The decision likely means none of the rules will be in place on November 5. The appeal will still be able to proceed on the regular, slower timeline.

Hawaii – Maui Voters to Decide If County Board of Ethics Can Hire a Full-Time Staff

Honolulu Civil Beat – Leo Azambuja | Published: 10/21/2024

Maui voters are being asked to allow the county Board of Ethics to hire its own full-time staff, including an executive director, a secretary, and an investigator. The all-volunteer board currently has no staff, and the proposed county charter amendment would allow more opportunities for ethics training of county employees and investigations of ethics violations.

Hawaii – Hawaii Legislature Rarely Uses Its Own Process to Investigate Lawmakers

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 10/16/2024

There are concerns that the Hawaii Legislature does not do much about lawmakers who behave badly, and whether the public would even hear about it if they did. The House Select Committee on Standards of Conduct appears to have rarely convened since its inception 16 years ago. Members of both chambers and parties say a big reason is legislators are reluctant to speak out for fear of retaliation “Anyone who complains, forget your bills …,” said Sen. Les Ihara, who was the author of a 2007 bill that called for setting up legislative ethics committees.

Illinois – Corrupt Political Boss or Defender of His Constituents? Madigan Trial Begins in Earnest

MSN – Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau, and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/21/2024

It has been five years since former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving legislative leader and the kingpin of the state’s Democrats, landed in the crosshairs of a federal corruption investigation. As opening statements in Madigan’s historic trial got underway, his defense team said the government’s cooperating witnesses were liars with an “axe to grind” who were operating without the speaker’s knowledge or authorization. Prosecutors told the jury Madigan ruthlessly used his perch at the top of state politics to betray the public trust, increase his power, enrich his friends, and line his own pockets.

Louisiana – The Louisiana Ethics Board Is Trying to Rein in PAC Spending. Lawmakers Are Balking.

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 10/23/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics has quietly clamped down on PAC spending for over a year, angering state lawmakers and a campaign advisor to Gov. Jeff Landry. Campaign finance attorneys said the ethics board has started to ask more questions, and possibly launched more investigations, into elected officials’ PAC spending since the middle of 2023. Legislators confirmed they were being told to take care when spending PAC money for the time being

Michigan – State Says Anti-Renewable Group Violated Campaign Finance Law Following Planet Detroit Investigation

Planet Detroit – Brian Allnutt | Published: 10/18/2024

The Michigan Department of State found the nonprofit Our Home Our Voice (OHOV) committed a “potential violation” of campaign finance law with its fundraising for a ballot question committee looking to repeal a renewable energy law. The law could allow energy developers to overcome restrictive local ordinances that block large-scale wind and solar projects from being built. The decision follows a report that found that OHOV, a 501(c)(4) organization, appeared to solicit donations for the ballot initiative and donated $54,200 to the ballot question committee.

Mississippi – Second Conspirator Pleads Guilty in Jackson Bribery Case. Man Tied to 2 Elected Officials

Yahoo News – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 10/17/2024

A second person in a bribery scandal pleaded guilty in the case that brought down former Jackson City Councilperson Angelique Lee. At least two other elected officials are involved. Court documents in the case were unsealed for Sherik Marve Smith, who is associated with Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens’ real estate company, which is being investigated by the FBI. Smith was also working with “Unindicted Co-Conspirator B” and “Unindicted Co-Conspirator C,” who are both elected officials of the city of Jackson, according to court documents.

Missouri – Ex-St. Louis Prosecutor Admits She Misused Public Funds and Avoids Criminal Charges

MSN – Heather Hollingsworth (Associated Press) | Published: 10/23/2024

A former prosecutor in St. Louis admitted she should not have used thousands of dollars in public funds to pay herself back after getting fined for mistakes while prosecuting a governor. Kim Gardner resigned under fire last year after being elected the city’s first Black circuit attorney in 2016. She will avoid federal criminal prosecution for misusing the $5,004 in public funds as long as she pays them back and follows other rules of a pretrial diversion agreement.

Nebraska – Felons with Finished Sentences Can Register to Vote, Nebraska Supreme Court Rules

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 10/16/2024

Nebraska residents who were convicted of felonies and have finished their sentences can vote in the November election, the state’s Supreme Court ruled, potentially opening the door for thousands of Nebraskans to cast their ballot. The ruling could have implications for the presidential race as Nebraska, which is solidly red, is one of two states that award some of their electoral votes by congressional district.

Nevada – ‘Gaping Loophole’ in Campaign-Finance Law: Dan Bilzerian, others give big to politicians

MSN – Eli Segall (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 10/17/2024

Las Vegas celebrity Dan Bilzerian has injected large amounts of money into Nevada politics, allowed by a legal loophole that lets him give the maximum amount through corporate entities. It is a common practice in Nevada, experts say. Since the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the lid on corporate political spending, outside groups have spent billions of dollars trying to influence federal elections. Nevada law has long allowed people to give big to state and local candidates: Donors can give the maximum allowed in their own name and through a limitless number of corporate entities to the same candidate, experts said.

Nevada – Here’s What Will Happen to Library Executive Who Took Super Bowl Tickets

MSN – Jessica Hill (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 10/16/2024

The executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District who accepted free Super Bowl tickets is required to implement ethics training for himself and his staff in accordance with an agreement approved by the Nevada Commission on Ethics. Kelvin Watson received tickets to attend the Super Bowl in Las Vegas that were valued at around $8,600.

Nevada – Former Las Vegas Area Democratic Politician Gets Minimum 28 Years in Prison for Killing Reporter

MSN – Ken Ritter (Associated Press) | Published: 10/16/2024

A former Las Vegas-area elected official was sentenced to serve at least 28 years in prison for killing an investigative journalist who wrote articles critical of his conduct in office two years ago and exposed an intimate relationship with a female coworker. A judge invoked sentencing enhancements for use of a deadly weapon and the age of the reporter to add eight years to the minimum 20-years-to-life sentence that a jury set after finding Robert Telles guilty of first-degree murder.

New Hampshire – ‘Wrap Up Quickly’: State supreme court justice indicted for allegedly interfering with investigation into ports director husband

MSN – Elura Nanos (Law and Crime) | Published: 10/16/2024

New Hampshire Supreme Court Associate Justice Anna Hantz Marconi, who is married to a long-embattled state official, was indicted for interfering with a criminal investigation into her husband. According to prosecutors, Marconi attempted to influence Gov. Chris Sununu to cut short an investigation into State Ports and Harbor Director Geno Marconi.

New York – Stricter New Rules for Campaign Cash Could Deal Blow to Mayor Adams’ Reelection Bid

Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 10/21/2024

Under proposed rule changes, the New York City Campaign Finance Board would be required to withhold the public financing program’s eight-to-one matching funds from candidates who violate specific rules. Until now, the board has been able to use its discretion to determine a candidate’s eligibility for matching funds, despite most compliance concerns. Board officials say the proposals amount to little more than bureaucratic housekeeping. But the new rules could have major implications for Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign.

New York – Where’s The Money? More Than $400,000 Missing from Bronx Democratic Party Disclosures

New York Focus – Sam Mellins | Published: 10/15/2024

The Bronx Democratic Party has failed to disclose more than $400,000 in contributions over the past four years, an apparent violation of campaign finance law. A New York Focus review found the state Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee transferred the funds in over a dozen installments, yet those contributions never appeared on the Bronx party’s paperwork.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission May Seek More Protections for Whistleblowers

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 10/24/2024

The North Dakota Ethics Commission is considering proposing a new law during the 2025 legislative session to protect whistleblowers. North Dakota already has whistleblower laws, but none explicitly cover the Ethics Commission. Another proposal would specify that the two-year prohibition on lobbying after a public official leaves their office only applies to those who were elected, not those who were appointed.

Oklahoma – Records Conceal Oklahoma Governor’s Aircraft Travel Information in Apparent Flouting of State Law

Yahoo News – Barbara Hoberock (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 10/7/2024

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and his wife have used a state plane to travel the country, but records conceal the purpose and passengers of many flights, raising questions about why they are not following state law on transparency. While officials blame each other for omissions on the Department of Transportation’s Beechcraft King Air’s flight logs, some legal experts say state law requires users to cite the reason for all flights and to clearly state who is aboard. But the law contains no consequences, such as fines, for noncompliance.

Oregon – Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Broke Law by Using Taxpayer Money to Edit Wikipedia Page, Auditor Finds

MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 10/21/2024

Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who is running for mayor, broke campaign finance rules when he used public funds to spruce up his Wikipedia page, the city auditor’s office announced. Chief Deputy Auditor Reed Brodersen wrote that Gonzalez violated the law by using city staff time, money, and services when he paid a company $6,400 this spring to help him highlight that he is a Democrat on his Wikipedia page. The auditor’s office issued Gonzalez a fine of $2,400.

Pennsylvania – A Judge Dismissed a Lawsuit That Ex-Mayoral Candidate Jeff Brown Filed Against the Ethics Board

MSN – Anna Orso (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 10/16/2024

A Philadelphia judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by former mayoral candidate Jeff Brown and a super PAC that spent millions of dollars to back his unsuccessful bid against the city’s Board of Ethics. Brown, as well as the PAC and a related nonprofit, argued the ethics board improperly used its power to undermine his run for mayor last year by publicly accusing him of campaign finance violations in the middle of the race.

Pennsylvania – A GOP Operative Accused a Monastery of Voter Fraud. Nuns Fought Back.

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 10/23/2024

A Republican operative in Pennsylvania falsely suggested to his nearly 58,000 followers on X that no one lived at a monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania, and mail ballots cast from there would be “illegal votes.” But the address Cliff Maloney posted belonged to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, where 55 nuns live full time. In a public statement, Sister Stephanie Schmidt called Maloney’s post, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, “blatantly false,” adding that “a simple web search would alert him to our active presence in a number of ministries in Erie.”

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania High Court Gives Voters Provisional Option If Their Mail Ballots Get Rejected

Yahoo News – Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 10/23/2024

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said people whose mail ballots are rejected for not following technical procedures in state law can cast provisional ballots, a decision sure to affect some of the thousands of mail-in votes likely to be rejected this fall. The court ruled Butler County’s Republican-majority election board must count provisional ballots that were cast by two voters after they learned their mail-in ballots were voided because they arrived without mandatory secrecy envelopes.

Texas – Whitmire Launches Ethics Investigation into Controller Hollins Over Potential ‘Pay to Play’ Sponsorships

MSN – Mike Morris and Abby Church (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 10/17/2024

The Houston Annual Investor Conference is now in its ninth year, but this year’s event is the first for which sponsorships have been sought, Mayor John Whitmire said. The conference’s website lists sponsorships from $10,000 up to $100,000, with increasing perks for top donors. Whitmire asked the Office of Inspector General to investigate if any city ordinances were violated by the solicitation of sponsorships. He will not attend the conference and called on City Controller Chris Hollins to cancel it.

Virginia – Va.’s AG Accused an Election Worker of Corruption. She’s Suing Him Back.

MSN – Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 10/17/2024

The former head of a Virginia county elections office has sued the state’s attorney general and current and former members of his office, saying they intentionally brought baseless corruption charges against her to further their political agenda and justify the creation of a controversial election integrity unit. The criminal case against Michele White, who was Prince William County’s registrar during the 2020 election, fizzled when Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares dropped the charges weeks before trial.

Campaign Finance

Louisiana: “The Louisiana Ethics Board Is Trying to Rein in PAC Spending. Lawmakers Are Balking.” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona County Official Who Delayed Certifying Election Results Accepts Plea Deal” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “U.S. Officials Say Russia Smeared Tim Walz, Might Stoke Post-Vote Violence” by Joseph Menn and David Nakamura (Washington Post) for MSN

Georgia: “Georgia Supreme Court Refuses to Reinstate Hand-Count Rule in Time for Election Day” by Aysha Bagchi (USA Today) for MSN

National: “Judge Orders Giuliani to Forfeit Millions in Assets to Election Workers He Defamed” by Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

Hawaii: “Maui Voters to Decide If County Board of Ethics Can Hire a Full-Time Staff” by Leo Azambuja for Honolulu Civil Beat

Mississippi: “Second Conspirator Pleads Guilty in Jackson Bribery Case. Man Tied to 2 Elected Officials” by Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “A New Washington Influence Industry Is Making Millions from Sanctions” by Jeff Stein, Federica Cocco, and Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

National: “How Elderly Dementia Patients Are Unwittingly Fueling Political Campaigns” by Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Audrey Ash, Kyung Lah, Anna-Maja Rappard, Casey Tolan, Lou Robinson, and Brian Manley for CNN

New York: “Where’s The Money? More Than $400,000 Missing from Bronx Democratic Party Disclosures” by Sam Mellins for New York Focus

Oregon: “Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Broke Law by Using Taxpayer Money to Edit Wikipedia Page, Auditor Finds” by Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Elections

National: “Why Are ABC Viewers Being Forced to See a Graphic Anti-Abortion Ad?” by Jeremy Barr and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “Va.’s AG Accused an Election Worker of Corruption. She’s Suing Him Back.” by Emily Davies (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Supervisor Andrew Do Agrees to Plead Guilty in Federal Investigation, Resign from Board of Supervisors” by Destiny Torres, Tony Saavedra, and Michael Slaten (Orange County Register) for MSN

Illinois: “Corrupt Political Boss or Defender of His Constituents? Madigan Trial Begins in Earnest” by Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau, and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Oklahoma: “Records Conceal Oklahoma Governor’s Aircraft Travel Information in Apparent Flouting of State Law” by Barbara Hoberock (Oklahoma Voice) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “Alaska Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom Approves Campaign-Finance Ballot Measure for 2026 Vote” by James Brooks for Alaska Beacon

Michigan: “State Says Anti-Renewable Group Violated Campaign Finance Law Following Planet Detroit Investigation” by Brian Allnutt for Planet Detroit

Nevada: “‘Gaping Loophole’ in Campaign-Finance Law: Dan Bilzerian, others give big to politicians” by Eli Segall (Las Vegas Review-Journal) for MSN

New York: “Stricter New Rules for Campaign Cash Could Deal Blow to Mayor Adams’ Reelection Bid” by Brigid Bergin for Gothamist

Elections

National: “Musk Promises a Daily $1 Million Lottery in Questionable Pro-Trump Effort” by Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN

Nebraska: “Felons with Finished Sentences Can Register to Vote, Nebraska Supreme Court Rules” by Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Federal Judge Agrees to Dismiss Pending Charge Against Recology in San Francisco Bribery Case” by Cole Rosengren for Waste Dive

Lobbying

Texas: “Whitmire Launches Ethics Investigation into Controller Hollins Over Potential ‘Pay to Play’ Sponsorships” by Mike Morris and Abby Church (Houston Chronicle) for MSN