On November 6, Democrat incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown handily won re-election for a third term as U.S. Senator from Ohio.

Brown faced off against three-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci. Before becoming a member of the U.S. House, Renacci was the mayor of Wadsworth, Ohio.

Renacci originally was campaigning to be the next governor of Ohio. However, after being asked by the White House to run against Brown for the U.S. Senate, Renacci left the governor’s race and began his campaign for senate.

Brown won with 53.2% of the vote compared to Renacci’s 46.8% of the vote, according to the New York Times.

Campaign Finance

Federal: “House Dem Candidates Snag Free Office Rent” by Scott Bland for Politico

Canada: “Alberta Tables Bill Proposing Changes to Municipal Elections” by Charles Lefebvre for Chat News Today

Alaska: “As Alaska’s Elections Come Down to Wire, Ads Test Limits of Campaign Finance Laws” by Zachariah Hughes for Alaska Public Media

Elections

National: “Forget the Russians. On This Election Day, It’s Americans Peddling Disinformation and Hate Speech.” by Craig Timnberg and Tony Romm for Washington Post

Florida: “Before Going to Prison, Former Opa-locka Commissioner Worked on Political Campaigns” by Jay Weaver and Maya Kaufman for Miami Herald

Ethics

Federal: “Newly Released Emails Suggest Zinke Contradicted Ethics Pledge” by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) for MSN

Federal: “China Greenlights Large Batch of Ivanka Trump Trademark Applications” by Gary Shih for Washington Post

Lobbying

National: “Industries Turn Freedom of Information Requests on Their Critics” by Elizabeth Williamson for WRAL

Campaign Finance

Federal: “Anyone Can Make a Super PAC – Even Prisoners and Kids Who Can’t Vote” by Kaitlin Washburn for Center for Responsive Politics

Elections

Federal: “In Email to Trump’s Campaign Strategist, Roger Stone Implied He Knew of WikiLeaks’s Plans” by Sharon LaFraniere, Michael Schmidt, Maggie Haberman, and Danny Hakim (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

Connecticut: “Judge Rules UConn Did Not Violate Ethics Law in Hiring Football Coach Randy Edsall’s Son” by Dave Altimeri for Hartford Courant

Nebraska: “UNL Professor Files Ethics Complaint, Alleging Fortenberry’s Chief of Staff Threatened Him Over Facebook Post” by Joseph Morton for Omaha World-Herald

Lobbying

Canada: “Senators Are Being Lobbied More Than Ever – And Some Are Feeling Overwhelmed” by John Paul Tasker for CBC

New York: “Lobbyist Arrested, Accused of Bribing State Legislator” by Gary Craig for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

The city of Long Beach, California has a measure to amend the city’s charter on Tuesday’s ballot.

Measure CCC seeks to create an independent ethics commission charged with administering and implementing rules concerning campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest and governmental ethics.

Critics of the measure argue that the mayor and auditor’s appointment privilege signifies that the commission would not be sufficiently independent.

National:

‘My Comrades Will Kill You’: Pipe bombs sent in year of many death threats against politicians
Governing – Alan Greenblatt | Published: 10/25/2018

Political violence has dominated the news recently, with pipe bombs mailed to CNN’s New York office and prominent Democrats, as well as liberal donor George Soros and actor Robert De Niro. Threats of violence have become commonplace in American politics. New Jersey Rep. Jay Webber, a Republican candidate for Congress, received a note calling him a liar and a “scumbag” and threatening him and his children. “You BETTER hope that you don’t win! Or else,” the note read. “How many kids do you have…7? Unlucky 7. This is what we think of you. Time to get out of politics!” In a year when record numbers of women are running for office, many have been harassed or become targets of sexist or threatening remarks.

Voters Could Clamp Down on Ethics, Campaign Finance at The Ballot Box
National Public Radio – Peter Overby | Published: 10/30/2018

Voters in more than a dozen states will consider ballot measures on November 6 that would affect ethics and campaign finance reform. Some of the initiatives would exceed federal standards, which have been steadily relaxed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress last passed a major campaign finance bill in 2001. “It’s telling that we have so many challengers for Congress that are running on this issue,” said Larry Norden of New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice. “But to get real change now, the only way to do that is at the local and the state level.”

Federal:

How ActBlue Is Trying to Turn Small Donations into a Blue Wave
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine and Chris Zubak-Skees | Published: 10/25/2018

ActBlue, a nonprofit whose online fundraising tools have been used to varying degrees by nearly every Democrat running for Congress, says it has raised more than $2.9 billion for Democrats and progressive organizations since its founding in 2004. September 2018 was the biggest month in its history. Donors are using the platform to reshape the map of competitive races this year, becoming a powerful force that could sway Democratic politics beyond November’s election.

Mueller Refers Sex Misconduct Scheme Targeting Him to FBI for Investigation
NBC News – Brandy Zadrozny, Ben Collins, and Tom Winter | Published: 10/30/2018

Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked the FBI to investigate an alleged scheme to manufacture sexual assault stories about him. At issue is an email widely circulated among journalists from someone who claimed she had been approached with an offer to pay her tens of thousands of dollars if she would answer questions about Mueller and then sign a sworn affidavit accusing him of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment. The plot appeared to be the latest, and one of the more bizarre, in a string of attempts by supporters of President Trump to discredit Mueller’s investigation as a hoax and a witch hunt.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska: Begich Spent Four Years as a Consultant. As Governor, He Could Sign Bills Affecting Former Clients.
KTOO – Nathaniel Herz | Published: 10/30/2018

For nearly four years, Mark Begich has owned a public affairs and consulting firm, Northern Compass Group, which has worked with clients that intersect with both state and federal government. If Begich is elected as Alaska’s governor on November 6, he will likely be faced with decisions that will directly affect the businesses, unions, and Native organizations that have been paying his business for advice. Alaska politicians often emerge from the worlds of public policy and business, and Begich is far from the first with potential for conflicts. Begich’s work is significant, though, because of the number of clients he has had, as well as the recentness of his work, said state Rep. Jason Grenn, who helped lead a successful push for legislative ethics reforms this year.

Arizona: Arizona Commissioner Andy Tobin Texted APS Lobbyists Frequently, Including About Open Rate Case
Energy Policy Institute – David Pomerantz | Published: 10/29/2018

Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) member Andy Tobin exchanged text messages throughout 2018 with lobbyists from Arizona Public Service (APS), often to complain about negative media coverage of APS’ rate increase requests before the commission. On one occasion, Tobin asked an APS lobbyist whether the utility had a “public information strategy planned” to combat negative media coverage of a rate increase request while the case was still pending before Tobin and the commission. The ACC, which is supposed to regulate APS in the public’s interest, has been embattled by scandals for the past four years, ever since two non-profit “dark money” organizations spent $3 million on the ACC elections in 2014. APS never confirmed nor denied being the source of that money.

Maine: Pro-Offshore Oil Group Chaired by LePage Is Run by Energy Lobbyists
Biddeford Journal Tribune – Colin Woodward (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 10/28/2018

A coalition of governors headed by Maine Gov. Paul LePage that seeks to open most federal waters to oil and gas exploration is staffed by employees of an oil industry lobbying firm. The Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, which LePage joined in 2015 and has chaired for the past two years, outsources its day-to-day staffing, research, and communications tasks to an advocacy group purporting to represent energy consumers. But a closer look at the group, the Consumer Energy Alliance, reveals it is funded by energy producers and staffed and run by senior officials of HBW Resources, an energy-focused lobbying and consulting firm.

Maryland: Question G Would Undercut Independence of Baltimore Ethics Board, Chairwoman Says
Baltimore Brew – Mark Ruettner | Published: 10/31/2018

Question G on the November ballot in Baltimore would tether the director of Legislative Reference to the mayor and city council president. The director of Legislative Reference is also the chief advisor to the city Board of Ethics. By making the director an “at will” employee of Mayor Catherine Pugh and Council President Bernard Young, as Question G does, that same employee is placed in a very awkward position on the ethics board. “Our director may be faced with having to handle an ethics complaint against one of the two people who appointed him,” said board Chairperson Linda Pierson.

Montana: How Big Sky Country Became the Front Line in a Long Battle Over Dark Money
Yahoo! News – Christa Case Bryant | Published: 10/29/2018

Two women are central figures in a fight in Montana over money in politics, one that may well set the tone for the rest of the nation. Jamie MacNaughton is the sole lawyer at the office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, which is tasked with enforcing Montana’s strict campaign finance laws. She is helping to prepare two cases under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. Anita Milanovich serves as the Montana outpost for the Bopp Law Firm, which is led by the preeminent lawyer fighting campaign finance regulations across the country. Now the firm is pursuing the legal cases against MacNaughton’s office.

Oklahoma: Legislators Act As ‘Super Donors,’ Sending Their Own Donors’ Cash to Other Candidates
KGOU – Trevor Brown (Oklahoma Watch) | Published: 10/30/2018

A review of contributions in Oklahoma found sitting lawmakers and legislative candidates’ campaigns have given more than $746,000 to other legislative candidates since January 1, 2016. About 75 percent of the money came from about a dozen Republican and Democratic legislators, almost all of whom hold or have held leadership positions. The sharing of contributions means these lawmakers act as de facto “super donors,” or at least bundlers, who dole out thousands of dollars to candidates running in a wide range of races. The large amounts of circulating cash have raised concerns at the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, which is examining a possible rule change, still being drafted, that would block candidates from transferring campaign funds to other candidates.

Pennsylvania: State Rep. Vanessa Brown Guilty on All Counts; Took $4,000 Bribe in Sting
Philadelphia Inquirer – Craig McCoy | Published: 10/31/2018

A jury convicted Pennsylvania Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown of charges she accepted $4,000 in cash from an undercover informant. Brown was the last defendant in an ambitious and controversial sting investigation launched by state prosecutors nearly a decade ago but secretly ended by then-state Attorney General Kathleen Kane. The guilty verdict represented the most dramatic repudiation yet of Kane’s criticism of the sting, which she had contended could not produce winnable cases in court. Under the law, Brown, who is running unopposed in the November 6 election, will also be barred from her House post upon her sentencing.

South Carolina: SC Rep. Harrison Found Guilty in Public Corruption Case, Gets Prison Sentence
Greenville News – John Monk (The State) | Published: 10/27/2018

A jury found former South Carolina Rep. Jim Harrison guilty of perjury and misconduct in office, marking the fifth conviction of a legislator in the past four years and capping off the first trial to come out of the high-profile probe into corruption in the statehouse. Prosecutors accused Harrison of secretly profiting from an influential consulting firm that pleaded guilty to illegal lobbying earlier this year. That firm, Richard Quinn & Associates, has been at the center of the five-year corruption investigation because of its once sprawling network of lawmakers, lobbying interests, and corporate clients. Harrison, the former chairperson of the House Judiciary Committee, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

West Virginia: For a Groundbreaking Candidate in West Virginia, Big Money and Attention Come with Downsides
Washington Post – Greg Jaffe | Published: 11/1/2018

Back when his campaign had raised just $7,000, when just about anyone who knew anything about politics gave him zero chance of winning, West Virginia Sen. Richard Ojeda decided to make a campaign video for his run for Congress. The pivotal moment for Ojeda came near the end of the shoot when he gave out his personal cell phone number. Ten months later, Ojeda was driving past burned-out houses and abandoned storefronts in the coal town where he had spent his childhood and still lived. The polls had him neck and neck with his Republican opponent. It was 21 days until the election and his cellphone was now ringing 100 times a day with calls from all over the United States and the world. At a moment in American politics when authenticity is everything, Ojeda is being hailed as an unpolished, authentic voice.

Wisconsin: Last-Minute Surprises and Secretive Moves Hide Wisconsin Lawmakers’ Actions from Public View
Wisconsin Public Radio – CV Vitolo-Haddad and Dee Hall (Wisconsin Center For Investigative Journalism) | Published: 10/29/2018

Since voters swept Republicans into power in 2010, Wisconsin lawmakers have increasingly used secretive maneuvers to keep the public in the dark about major spending and policy changes. An investigation found the Legislature systematically diminishes the voices of the public by Introducing budget amendments at the end of the approval process with no public notice or debate; approving anonymous, last-minute budget motions containing changes, including major policy items that have nothing to do with state spending; and altering the scope and impact of a bill after its public hearing has been held, which excludes citizens from having influence on legislation before it is enacted. When Democrats controlled the Legislature and governor’s office they played that game, too, notably with their own end-of-the-session wrap-up budget bills of anonymously authored items.

Campaign Finance

Federal: “Purina Drops Campaign Contributions to Steve King, Citing ‘Recent Statements’” by Michael Burke for The Hill

Canada: “Province Moves to Ban Big Money from Recall Campaigns” by Rattan Mall for Voiceonline.com

Elections

Federal: “Mueller Probes Roger Stone’s Interactions with Trump Campaign and Timing of WikiLeaks Release of Podesta Emails” by Robert Costa, Carol Leonnig, Rosalind Helderman, and Manuel Roig-Franzia (Washington Post) for Stamford Advocate

Ethics

Federal: “Zinke’s Own Agency Watchdog Just Referred Him to the Justice Department” by Juliet Eilperin and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

Federal: “Mueller Refers Sex Misconduct Scheme Targeting Him to FBI for Investigation” by Brandy Zadrozny, Ben Collins, and Tom Winter for NBC News

National: “Voters Could Clamp Down on Ethics, Campaign Finance at The Ballot Box” by Peter Overby for National Public Radio

Alaska: “Begich Spent Four Years as a Consultant. As Governor, He Could Sign Bills Affecting Former Clients.” by Nathaniel Herz for KTOO

Florida: “Sex for Speed Bumps: Ethics panel finds probable cause that Florida mayor misused his position” by Antonia Noori Farzan for Washington Post

Maryland: “Question G Would Undercut Independence of Baltimore Ethics Board, Chairwoman Says” by Mark Ruettner for Baltimore Brew

Pennsylvania: “State Rep. Vanessa Brown Guilty on All Counts; Took $4,000 Bribe in Sting” by Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Campaign Finance

National: “Female Candidates Break Barriers, Except When It Comes to Money” by Kate Zernike (New York Times) for WRAL

Oklahoma: “Legislators Act As ‘Super Donors,’ Sending Their Own Donors’ Cash to Other Candidates” by Trevor Brown (Oklahoma Watch) for KGOU

Elections

National: “2 State Ballots with Felons’ Rights, 2 Different Directions” by J. Brian Charles for Governing

National: “Paper Is Big Again, at Least for Elections. These States Don’t Have It” by Gopal Ratnam for Roll Call

Maryland: “Maryland Voters to Decide Whether to Adopt Election Day Registration” by Rachel Chason for Washington Post

Ethics

New Jersey: “Phil Murphy Investigation: NJ lawmakers get subpoena power after sex assault claims” by Nicholas Pugliese for Bergen Record

Lobbying

National: “A Donald Trump Appointee – Also a Saudi Government Lobbyist – Is Reassessing His Roles” by Sarah Kleiner and Lateshia Beachum for Center for Public Integrity

Canada: “Province Tables Amendments to Lobbyist Legislation” by Rattan Mall for Voiceonline.com

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: “Kentucky Officials Seek Changes in Campaign-Finance Laws” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Montana: “How Big Sky Country Became the Front Line in a Long Battle Over Dark Money” by Christa Case Bryant for Yahoo!News

New Jersey: “Baraka, Ex-Campaign Treasurer Still Face Campaign Finance Accusations” by Rebecca Panico for TAPinto.net

Elections

National: “‘Staying on the Sidelines Is No Longer an Option’: How Silicon Valley is trying to help Democrats capture Congress in 2018” by Tony Romm for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Former City Manager Rick Fernandez Agrees to Settlement with Ethics Commission” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Legislative Issues

Wisconsin: “Last-Minute Surprises and Secretive Moves Hide Wisconsin Lawmakers’ Actions from Public View” by CV Vitolo-Haddad and Dee Hall (Wisconsin Center For Investigative Journalism) for Wisconsin Public Radio

Lobbying

Arizona: “Arizona Commissioner Andy Tobin Texted APS Lobbyists Frequently, Including About Open Rate Case” by David Pomerantz for Energy Policy Institute

Redistricting

Michigan: “Volunteer Movement Helped Carry Redistricting Proposal to the Ballot” by Lauren Gibbons for MLive.com

National:

How a Billionaire from Another State Could Influence Your Elections
Center for Public Integrity – Liz Essley Whyte | Published: 10/18/2018

Twenty-five American billionaires have invested more than $70.7 million for initiative campaigns this year in 19 states where they do not reside. Meanwhile, as little as $7.2 million has gone from their wallets and those of other billionaires to campaigns in their home states. In total, the $78 million tally from all 34 billionaires may be pocket change to them, but it is more than 10 percent of the $648 million disclosed so far this year for statewide ballot measure campaigns. The contributions from the wealthy to campaigns across state lines rankle some local opponents, even though no one questions their legality. Just who should decide issues in their states, they ask – the people who live there or some rich folks from out-of-state?

Three Secretaries of State Are Refereeing the Election While Running in the Field
McClatchy DC – Tim Johnson | Published: 10/18/2018

In three states, the referee for the midterm elections is also on the field as a player. Elected secretaries of state in Georgia and Kansas, who in their official capacities oversee the elections in their states, are running for governor. Ohio’s secretary of state is running for lieutenant governor. They have faced scattered calls to resign but have refused to do so. Election reformers say the situation underscores the conflict-of-interest when an official has responsibilities for an election while also running as a candidate. While the three secretaries of state are Republican, concerns about inappropriate actions by partisans who hold the office transcend parties.

Federal:

Inside the Saudis’ Washington Influence Machine: How the kingdom gained power through fierce lobbying and charm offensives
MSN – Tom Hamburger, Justin Reinhard, and Justin Moyer (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2018

A sophisticated influence machine has shaped policy and perceptions of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. for decades, batting back critiques of the kingdom by doling out millions of dollars to lobbyists, law firms, prominent think tanks, and large defense contractors. In 2017, Saudi payments to lobbyists and consultants in Washington more than tripled over the previous year. Beyond their spending, the Saudis have enjoyed a priceless advantage: a warm relationship with President Trump, who has done business its wealthy citizens, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who developed a close bond with the crown prince as he crafted the administration’s Middle East policy.

U.S. Begins First Cyberoperation Against Russia Aimed at Protecting Elections
MSN – Julian Barnes (New York Times) | Published: 10/23/2018

The United States Cyber Command is targeting individual Russian operatives to try to deter them from spreading disinformation to interfere in elections, telling them that American operatives have identified them and are tracking their work. The campaign, which includes missions undertaken in recent days, is the first known overseas cyberoperation to protect U.S. elections, including the November midterms. The operations come as the Justice Department recently outlined a campaign of “information warfare” by Russians aimed at influencing the midterm elections, highlighting the broad threat the American government sees from Moscow’s influence campaign.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska: State Regulators to Alaska Lobbyist: Stop helping candidates raise money
Alaska Public Media – Nathaniel Hertz | Published: 10/18/2018

Alaska lobbyists have been breaking an anti-corruption law by promoting fundraising events on behalf of candidates, according to a preliminary opinion from the state’s campaign finance watchdog. Lobbyist Ashley Reed asked for the formal opinion from the Alaska Public Offices Commission. He wanted to know whether state law allows for lobbyists to email copies of invitations to fundraisers for political candidates. The Legislature banned lobbyists from engaging in fundraising activity more than two decades ago. But despite the ban, Reed and lobbyist Jerry Mackie have been sending copies of fundraiser invitations to their clients and friends.

Florida: Text Messages Raise New Questions Over Andrew Gillum’s Lobbyist Connections
WRAL – Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) | Published: 10/23/2018

Undercover FBI agents paid for Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum’s hotel room and his ticket to the Broadway musical “Hamilton” during a 2016 trip to New York City, according to newly released documents that raise questions just before Florida’s gubernatorial election, in which Gillum is locked in a close race with former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis. Text messages between Gillum and former lobbyist Adam Corey, who set up meetings with the agents, show Gillum knew the tickets came from men he believed to be businesspeople looking to develop property in Tallahassee, but were undercover FBI agents investigating public corruption in the city. The records contradicted Gillum’s past statements on the state ethics probe.

Indiana: No Charges Against Hill, But Investigation Reveals Searing New Details
Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook, Ryan Martin, and Kaitlin Lange | Published: 10/23/2018

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill will not be charged over allegations he groped a state lawmaker and several staffers at a party celebrating the end of the legislative session. He also was cleared of any ethical breaches by the inspector general’s office. Special Prosecutor Daniel Sigler, who said he believed the women’s stories to be “true and credible,” announced that bringing charges would be difficult due to the time that elapsed between the alleged incident in March and the filing of the claims against Hill. But the fallout from Hill’s alleged behavior that night is likely to continue as his accusers prepare a civil lawsuit and Republican leaders continue to call for his resignation.

Kentucky: Kentucky AG Defends Campaign Finance Reform in Sixth Circuit
Courthouse News Service – Kevin Koeninger | Published: 10/18/2018

The constitutionality of several Kentucky ethics laws was debated before a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, with the state’s attorney general arguing they are necessary to maintain citizens’ confidence in the government. Plaintiffs alleged numerous restrictions on campaign financing and lobbying were unconstitutional, including contribution limits and a prohibition on gifts to legislators and their spouses. Kentucky made sweeping changes to its campaign finance laws in 2017, which mooted several of the plaintiffs’ claims. But U.S. District Court Judge William Bertelsman sided with the plaintiffs on several issues last year. Bertelsman struck down the law that prevents legislators and their spouses from receiving “anything of value,” ruling the statute was unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.

Maine: Crowdfunding of Collins Opponent in 2020 Likely Faces Legal Challenge
Lewiston Sun Journal – Kevin Collins (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 10/22/2018

In an effort to pressure U.S. Sen. Susan Collins on the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, organizers pledged to collect contributions nationwide and give them to a hypothetical Democratic challenger in 2020 if Collins voted to confirm the nominee. If she opposed Kavanaugh, whose nomination nearly collapsed amid allegations of sexual misconduct, no money would be collected. The unprecedented campaign, which Collins has labeled a bribe, is a testament to the power of small-dollar “crowdfunding” at a time when corporations, interest groups, and wealthy donors can dump unlimited money into elections. Yet the tactics used by the three organizations behind the campaign to pressure Collins are raising sticky legal questions that could end up in court, with national implications.

Missouri: Clean Missouri Proposition Puts Redistricting Front and Center, Limits Lobbyist Influence
St. Louis Public Radio – Jason Rosenbaum | Published: 10/23/2018

Amendment 1 on the November ballot in Missouri would limit the meals, entertainment, and travel a lobbyist can give a lawmaker, and place a two-year waiting period on lawmakers and their staff to become lobbyists. It would also lower contributions limits for state House and Senate candidates, as well as alter how state legislative districts are drawn. Supporters believe the measure will make lawmakers more responsive to people instead of special interest groups or lobbyists. Detractors believe the initiative is not about improving ethics, and instead is about giving Democrats a leg up on the state legislative redistricting process.

New Hampshire: N.H. Legislators Look to Lobbyists for Reliable Source of Re-Election Cash
New Hampshire Public Radio – Casey McDermott | Published: 10/19/2018

A review of fundraising reports in New Hampshire over the most recent legislative session shows donations from lobbying interests with a direct stake in the decisions made by state senators accounted for roughly half of all the money raised by those same senators’ re-election campaigns. The rate of reliance on lobbying money varied from as little as 16 percent to 75 percent or more. In many cases, senators’ fundraising reports reflected the intersection of money and influence inherent to statehouse lobbying. Candidates can, and often do, accept separate contributions from lobbying firms, the lobbyists they employ, and the clients they represent, magnifying their impact in legislative races.

New York: Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, Gets 4 Years and 3 Months in Prison
WRAL – Benjamin Weiser and Vivian Wang (New York Times) | Published: 10/24/2018

Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was sentenced to four years and three months in prison on federal corruption charges, including soliciting bribes and defrauding the public. The sentence was lighter than the five years that the same judge imposed in 2016 when he was convicted on the same charges. That conviction was overturned. Skelos’ son, Adam, who was convicted along with his father, was sentenced to four years in prison. Prosecutors accused Dean Skelos of using his position to pressure three companies to provide his son with consulting work, a “no-show” job, and a $20,000 payment.

North Dakota: All of the Above? The Ancient Voting Method One City Might Adopt
Governing – Alan Greenblatt | Published: 10/19/2018

In November, voters in Fargo, North Dakota, will decide whether to adopt a ballot measure that would create a system known as “approval voting” for local elections. Under the system, everybody can vote for as many candidates as they would like. If there are four candidates for the city commission, for example, you could choose to vote for one of them, or for two, or for the whole lot. Unlike the other multiple-choice method known as ranked-choice voting, which is gaining favor in some places, each vote would count the same. The person with the highest total would win. Supporters say voters would not have to worry about wasting votes on spoilers with little chance of winning since they can also select candidates expected to be more popular. In theory, however, candidates with extreme viewpoints would have a harder time since the winner would have to be broadly acceptable to most voters.

Pennsylvania: Ex-Allentown Mayor Gets 15 Years in Prison on Corruption Charges
Philadelphia Inquirer – Associated Press | Published: 10/23/2018

Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges. He was convicted of trading city contracts for campaign donations to fund his bids for mayor, governor, and U.S. Senate. Jurors found him guilty on 47 counts in connection to eight schemes, including those involving contracts for a city pool, tax collection service, cybersecurity, and streetlight installation. Pawlowski must also pay more than $93,000 in restitution in restitution to the city and to vendors that prosecutors say were cheated out of a fair and open bidding process.

South Carolina: Should SC Roads Be Named After Lawmakers Who Have Pleaded Guilty to Corruption?
The State – Avery Wilks | Published: 10/22/2018

A few days after he resigned from the South Carolina Senate and pleaded guilty to misconduct in office, John Courson asked the Department of Transportation to remove the signs bearing his name from a state road. But another former state senator, Robert Ford, who pleaded guilty to corruption in 2015, says he earned the right to have a Charleston road named after him and would not give up the honor. Unseemly exits from the South Carolina General Assembly can create a host of awkward circumstances. Among them: what to do with the state roads or buildings named after politicians who have admitted to corruption?

Next month, Massachusetts voters will decide on a ballot measure seeking to cap corporate spending in elections.

Ballot Question 2, if passed, will create a commission made up of citizens tasked with producing a report on the state of political spending in Massachusetts and promoting an amendment to the United States Constitution. The commission would also report on whether the state can legally limit corporate contributions.

The ballot measure has been characterized as a way for the state to show their opposition to the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision.

The group advocating for Ballot Question 2 envisions a 28th Amendment removing the ability of corporations, labor unions, super PACs and other wealthy interests from financially influencing political campaigns.

To pass, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution would require approval by two-thirds of the U.S. House and Senate and must also be ratified by 38 states.

Gov. Bill Walker dropped out of his race for re-election on October 19, just days after his lieutenant governor resigned for making “inappropriate” comments.

Public and private polling showed him trailing in third place, behind Republican Mike Dunleavy and Democrat Mark Begich.

While dropping out, Gov. Walker said, “Alaskans deserve a competitive race,” and then endorsed Begich to replace him.

Due to the timing of the announcement, Walker’s name will still appear on the ballot.

Campaign Finance

California: “Supervisors Order Destruction of Campaign Money Enforcement Emails” by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC

Maine: “Crowdfunding of Collins Opponent in 2020 Likely Faces Legal Challenge” by Kevin Collins (Portland Press Herald) for Lewiston Sun Journal

Maryland: “Prince George’s Approves Matching Funds for Local Candidates – Starting in 2026” by Rachel Chason for Washington Post

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Allentown Mayor Gets 15 Years in Prison on Corruption Charges” by Associated Press for Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington: “Corporate Dollars Gushing into Washington’s Initiative Campaigns Spur Push for New Campaign-Finance Laws” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Elections

Federal: “U.S. Begins First Cyberoperation Against Russia Aimed at Protecting Elections” by Julian Barnes (New York Times) for MSN

Michigan: “Lack of Precedent Clouds Brenda Jones’ Bid for Conyers Seat” by Melissa Nann Burke for Detroit News

Ethics

Alabama: “Former Drummond V.P. and Balch Lawyer Sentenced to Federal Prison” by Ivana Hrynkiw for AL.com

Colorado: “Ethics Commission Votes to Investigate Complaint Against Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper” by Anna Staver for Denver Post

Lobbying

Florida: “Text Messages Raise New Questions Over Andrew Gillum’s Lobbyist Connections” by Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) for WRAL

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Opponents Say Amendment 75 Wrong Way to Take on Colorado’s Millionaire Candidates” by Michael De Yoanna for KUNC

Maine: “Portlanders Will Vote on Requiring More Campaign Finance Transparency” by Randy Billings for Portland Press Herald

Elections

Federal: “Special Counsel Examines Conflicting Accounts as Scrutiny of Roger Stone and WikiLeaks Deepens” by Carol Leonnig, Manuel Roig-Franzia, and Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

National: “Three Secretaries of State Are Refereeing the Election While Running in the Field” by Tim Johnson for McClatchy DC

Ethics

Federal: “Supreme Court Shields Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross from Answering Questions in Census Controversy” by Robert Barnes and Tara Bahrampour (Washington Post) for MSN

Indiana: “Indiana Attorney General Won’t Be Charged in Alleged Groping” by Rick Callahan (Associated Press) for Chicago Sun-Times

Missouri: “Clean Missouri Proposition Puts Redistricting Front and Center, Limits Lobbyist Influence” by Jason Rosenbaum for St. Louis Public Radio

Pennsylvania: “Four Years Later, Pa. Lawmaker from Philly Charged in Sting Case Faces Trial” by Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

South Carolina: “Ex-SC Rep. Harrison ‘Trampled’ on Ethics Law, ‘Lied’ About Quinn, Prosecutor Says” by John Monk for The State

Federal judges have appointed a University of California political science professor, Bernard Grofman, to redraw House of Delegates congressional maps.

In June, the court ordered lawmakers to redraw lines to address racial gerrymandering by the end of October.

The General Assembly was not able to agree on a legislative solution and Gov. Northam promised to veto any redistricting bills sent to his desk.

The court will hold another conference to schedule the process but has indicated a new map will be enacted by March 28, 2019.

Pictured: University of California professor Bernard Grofman