Campaign Finance

Missouri: “‘A Little Goofy’: Loopholes allow millions to flow around Missouri campaign donation limits” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Fined $9,000 for New Set of Campaign Finance Violations” by Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Senate Confirms Biden’s Ethics Czar, Who Will Remain Under Trump” by Eric Katz for Government Executive

Louisiana: “Louisiana Legislators Threaten to Remove State Ethics Board Members, Issue Subpoenas” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

National: “Go Bags, Passports, Foreign Assets: Preparing to be a target of Trump’s revenge” by Stanley-Becker and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “Anaheim Postpones Voting on Law Limiting Gifts from Lobbyists” by Gabriel San Román for Los Angeles Times

Michigan: “Panel Pushes Out Lobbying Reform as Clock Runs Down on Legislative Session” by Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “Another Ex-FirstEnergy Lobbyist Pleads the Fifth in Investigation, Citing Self-Incrimination Risks” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

The County Commission has approved an ordinance to raise the monetary value limit of a gift of food and drink for elected officials from $5 to $25.

Commissioner Mark Bogen stated this ordinance will allow elected officials, candidates, and government staff to interface better with the public as the current rules prevent officials from attending functions they should be attending.

Reasoning in the ordinance states the stringent gift limitations in the County Code of Ethics unintentionally discourage personal interaction and communication between elected officials and the communities they serve.

The gift limitation was raised on November 12 after a unanimous vote for its approval.

On November 14, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm David Huitema as Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (O.G.E.).

By a vote of 50-46, the Huitema appointment to O.G.E., which oversees the executive branch ethics program in more than 140 agencies, is for a five-year term.

A director serves at the will of the president and could be removed by President-elect Trump upon taking office.

Huitema will replace Acting Director Shelley K. Finlayson, who took the position when the term of the previous director, Emory Rounds, expired in July of last year.

National/Federal

A Spike in Demand, and Fees, for Lobbyists with Ties to Trump

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 11/7/2024

In corporate boardrooms and foreign capitals, there is a scramble to sign lobbyists who could help navigate an incoming administration viewed with uncertainty and concern. Companies and foreign countries have long relied on lobbyists to guide them through the shifts in power on Capitol Hill or the White House. But since Donald Trump first upended global politics in 2016, he has continued to confound establishment gatekeepers on K Street. It has led to a delicate dance in which a relatively small group of lobbyists have sought to demonstrate their value to him and to cautious clients, without running afoul of the sensitivities of either.

Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?

DNyuz – David Fahrenthold and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 11/13/2024

In Donald Trump’s first term as president, some of his toughest opponents were left-leaning nonprofit groups. They bogged down his immigration and environmental policies with lawsuits and protests and were rewarded with a huge “Trump bump” in donations. Some of those groups are promising to do it all over again, but this time it could be a lot harder. Trump’s administration could learn from past mistakes and avoid the procedural errors that made its rules easier to challenge, and the higher courts are seeded with judges appointed by Trump. Nonprofits are also finding some supporters are not energized by another round of resistance.

Gaetz Resigned Days Before Ethics Investigation Report Expected

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor, Jacqueline Alemany, and Marianne Levine (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

The House Committee on Ethics was set to vote on releasing a report about U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after being picked as Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Gaetz has been under investigation by the bipartisan ethics panel for allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use and accepted improper gifts. If a lawmaker is under investigation by the committee and resigns, is expelled, or leaves Congress, the committee immediately ceases any ongoing investigation.

Neera Tanden’s X Posts Violated Ban on Political Fundraising, Government Watchdog Alleges

MSN – Adam Cancryn (Politico) | Published: 11/7/2024

A government ethics watchdog agency formally accused White House domestic policy chief Neera Tanden of repeatedly violating the Hatch Act by soliciting political contributions on social media in the months before the election. It appears to be the first time a White House official has faced such a complaint after Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger warned in May that he would eliminate the custom of sending such accusations to the president to deal with at his discretion.

Some Ethics Experts Raise Concerns Over Musk and Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency Roles

MSN – Soon Rin Kim (ABC News) | Published: 11/13/2024

Donald Trump’s announcement that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a newly formed advisory Department of Government Efficiency has alarmed some government ethics experts, who say the pair’s deep financial interests could lead to potential conflicts-of-interest. Some ethics experts are particularly alarmed that Musk and Ramaswamy’s roles have been described as “outside of government,” an arrangement that could potentially mean they would not be subject to normal financial disclosure rules.

The Onion Wins Auction to Take Control of Alex Jones’s Infowars

MSN – Kim Bellware (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2024

The satirical news site The Onion won a bankruptcy auction to acquire the media company of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The bid was sanctioned by the families of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who in 2022 won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones and his company for claiming the massacre was a hoax. The takeover of comes with a multi-year agreement with the nonprofit group Everytown for Gun Safety, which will serve as the exclusive advertiser during the Onion-led relaunch of Infowars.

Trump Could Pick Government’s Top Ethics Official – After Key Ally Blocked Biden’s Choice

MSN – Fredreka Schouten (CNN) | Published: 11/8/2024

Donald Trump could be in a position to select the government’s top ethics czar when he assumes office in January after a key ally in the Senate blocked President Biden’s pick to head the Office of Government Ethics. Sen. Mike Lee objected to the confirmation of David Huitema to the post, a little more than a year after he was first nominated by Biden. Lee said the vote should be delayed until after the presidential election, citing what he called the “political weaponization of the US government against Donald Trump by the Biden-Harris administration.”

Trump, Allies Signal They Will Try to Call the Shots for Republican-Led Senate

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 11/10/2024

Donald Trump and his allies signaled they will try to call the shots in the Republican-led Senate, pushing the candidacy of Sen. Rick Scott for GOP leader and demanding that Republicans allow Trump to make appointments to his administration and the courts without Senate approval. Next year, Republicans are on track to have at least 53 senators, a comfortable majority to approve nominations, but Trump seemed to indicate that was not sufficient for his choices for federal jobs and judicial vacancies.

Elon Musk’s $1M Voter Giveaways Were Fixed Lotteries, Lawsuits Say

MSN – Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

When Robert Alvarez heard that Elon Musk was giving away $1 million in a lottery each day to a swing-state voter, he signed a petition from Musk’s super PAC in hopes of winning. But in a lawsuit filed against Musk and America PAC, Alvarez said he never had a chance of winning. America PAC, which Musk created to campaign for Trump, did not select winners by chance, but instead by vetting candidates’ social media presence for pro-GOP values, Alvarez’s lawsuit said.

Minority-Owned Firms Face ‘Crisis’ as Affirmative Action Programs Fall

MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 11/11/2024

Minority- and women-owned businesses are bracing for the end of affirmative action in federal contracting, and the potential loss of contracts worth at least $70 billion a year, as government programs for “disadvantaged” firms have fallen to legal attack over the past year. A series of court rulings have held some of the federal government’s largest diversity programs violate the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. As a result, key agencies have dropped race and gender preferences born in the Civil Rights era and intended to level the playing field by setting aside billions each year in contracting dollars for minority- and women-owned firms.

Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump a Trifecta

MSN – Emily Brooks (The Hill) | Published: 11/12/2024

Republicans are projected to keep control of the U.S. House, handing the party total control of Washington with Donald Trump back in the White House in January. Decision Desk HQ projected the GOP would hold the House by winning its 218th seat, the number needed for a majority in the chamber. The final breakdown is uncertain, with ballots still being counted for several races in California. Those exact numbers will matter a lot for Speaker Mike Johnson’s political future, for which policies Republicans can enact, and how the lower chamber will function – or not function.

How ‘Urgent’ Texts Pushed These Donors to Give Thousands of Times to Political Candidates

MSN – Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/12/2024

There is a new kind of political donor: one who gives in fairly small amounts, sometimes as little as a dollar, over and over. More than 13,500 Americans are frequent donors who have made one or more contributions per day, on average, in this cycle. Campaigns do not stop sending fundraising messages to donors, even after they have hit contribution limits. Joint fundraising committees allow for complex ways of shifting money between participating committees to increase the amount that a donor can give after hitting the limit on any individual committee.

Elon Musk’s PAC Spent an Estimated $200 Million to Help Elect Trump, AP Source Says

MSN – Dan Merica (Associated Press) | Published: 11/11/2024

Elon Musk’s super PAC spent around $200 million to help elect Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the group’s spending, funding an effort that set a new standard for how billionaires can influence elections. America PAC’s work was aided by an FEC ruling that paved the way for super PACs to coordinate their canvassing efforts with campaigns, allowing the Trump campaign to rely on the near-unlimited money of the nation’s most high-profile billionaire to boost turnout.

Four States Reject Ranked-Choice Voting, Approved in District

MSN – Tim Craig (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon rebuffed efforts to adopt ranked choice voting in their future elections, dealing a setback to those who wanted to dramatically change how Americans choose their elected officials. The one bright spot for advocates of ranked-choice voting was the District of Columbia, where a referendum was approved by a wide margin. The practice is already in use in Alaska and Maine. But Alaska voters, who initially approved ranked choice voting in a 2020 referendum, are considering a referendum to undo the change.

Special Counsel Jack Smith Plans to Quit; Cannon Appeal May Continue

MSN – Perry Stein and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

Special counsel Jack Smith plans to resign and wrap up his federal prosecutions of Donald Trump before the president-elect takes office and can fire him. Trump’s election victory prompted Smith to start winding down the prosecutions instead of continuing court proceedings until Inauguration Day. Ending the two federal cases could allow Smith to deliver a final report detailing his findings before Trump becomes the 47th president. Smith appears to still be considering how to handle an ongoing appeal in Trump’s classified documents case.

Legal Questions Surround Trump’s Talk of Political Prosecutions

Roll Call – Ryan Tarinelli | Published: 11/8/2024

Donald Trump expressed support for criminal charges to be filed against his political opponents on the campaign trail, but former Justice Department officials and legal experts say there are various guardrails set up to prevent retribution through the criminal process. But former Trump administration officials have warned publicly that people who once aimed to stop Trump’s worst impulses will not be there to rein him in during a second term. Trump will also be immune from federal prosecution for official acts after a Supreme Court decision earlier this year.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Judge Recuses from Arizona Case Over His Email Denouncing Attacks on Harris

MSN – Annabelle Timsit and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

The judge overseeing the criminal election-interference case in Arizona against some of Donald Trump’s supporters recused himself from the case. Maricopa County Judge Bruce Cohen had emailed colleagues urging them to speak out against conservative attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris’s gender and racial identity. An attorney for one of the defendants said the emails showed the judge “bears a deep-seated personal political bias” against Trump and the defendants.

California – Criminal Prosecutor Tapped to Lead San Diego Ethics Panel, as Voters Hand It More Power

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/8/2024

A committee of the San Diego Ethics Commission selected an outsider to take over the regulatory office after current Executive Director Sharon Spivak steps away early next year. The full commission will now Consider appointing longtime prosecutor Bryn Kirvin to run the department charged with enforcing city campaign finance laws and lobbying rules. Voters approved Measure D, which strengthens the agency’s authority in several important ways, including awarding the commission authority to name its executive director.

California – In a Historic Shift, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Will Nearly Double in Size

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/11/2024

Voters approved a proposal to add four more members to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as part of a massive overhaul of the county government’s structure. Measure G’s passage marks a dramatic reshaping of a government that has not fundamentally changed for over a century, as the county’s population exploded from 500,000 to roughly 10 million. The ballot measure also calls for the creation of an independent ethics commission by 2026.

California – Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Concedes Recall Defeat, Ending Tenure Marked by City’s Struggles

San Jose Mercury News – Shomik Mukherjee | Published: 11/9/2024

Oakland voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. It was a resounding victory for a fierce recall campaign bankrolled almost entirely by a single hedge-fund manager, Philip Dreyfuss, who spent over $1.9 million in Alameda County politics this year. City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas will serve as the interim mayor until a special election can be held. Thao’s professional future seems uncertain amid a sprawling FBI investigation into Oakland that in June led federal agents to raid her home and several other addresses.

California – Newsom Fined $13,000 for Failing to Report on Time Payments Made at His Request

Yahoo News – Sandra McDonald (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/8/2024

Gov. Gavin Newsome agreed to a $13,000 fine from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for not meeting deadlines to report charitable contributions made at his request. State law requires elected officials to report donations made on their behalf within 30 days. The FPPC said on 18 occasions, Newsom and his 2018 campaign committee failed to make those reports on time, often submitting them several months late.

Delaware – Delaware’s Campaign Finance Law Sees Small Changes with a Potential Overhaul on the Horizon

Delaware First Media – Sarah Petrowich | Published: 11/10/2024

Delaware Gov. John Carney signed House Bill 291 into law, requiring the Department of Elections to provide a phone number and online form for reporting alleged campaign financing violations in the state, among other provisions. State Attorney General Kathy Jennings has indicated she is already working on additional reform recommendations to propose to the Legislature in the new year.

District of Columbia – Trayon White Sr., Facing Bribery Charge, Is Reelected to D.C. Council

MSN – Michael Brice-Saddler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. sailed to a third term even as he faces a federal bribery charge. For White, who lacked serious opposition, the outcome is illustrative of the enduring support of his base. While some voters expressed reservations about voting for White, a vast majority made it clear that they still have his back.

Florida – Lobbying Firm Promotes Katie Wiles as Her Mother Becomes Trump’s Chief of Staff

MSN – David Bauerlein (Jacksonville Florida Times-Union) | Published: 11/8/2024

A day after Donald Trump named Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, Continental Strategy promoted Wiles’ daughter Katie to be the director of its lobbying and consulting offices in Jacksonville and the District of Columbia. The announcement said Wiles will continue to provide communications work for Continental Strategy’s federal and state operations while adding lobbying and business development to her role in the firm’s offices.

Florida – Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Martinez Convicted of Taking $15K to Help Constituent

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/7/2024

Joe Martinez, whose 17-year law enforcement career led to five terms in elected office as a county commissioner, was convicted of accepting $15,000 in payments in exchange for helping with legislation that would have benefited a constituent. Prosecutors argued Martinez accepted three $5,000 payments in 2016 and 2017 from Extra Supermarket owner Jorge Negrin in exchange for pushing legislation that would have permitted much needed large-refrigerated containers on the property.

Georgia – Supreme Court Squashes Mark Meadows’ Push to Move Georgia Election Charges

Yahoo News – Maureen Groppe and Bart Jansen (USA Today) | Published: 11/12/2024

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows lost his bid to move his Georgia election interference case to federal court, where it might have been easier to avoid prosecution. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court’s rejection of Meadows’ attempt. Meadows, who was charged with Donald Trump and 17 others in what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to reverse Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia, argued the crimes he is accused of committing involved actions that were part of his federal job at the White House.

Indiana – Police: Shoulders spent thousands in campaign dollars on baseball cards, IU season tickets

Yahoo News – Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) | Published: 11/7/2024

Former Vanderburgh County Commissioner Ben Shoulders used tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to buy baseball cards and basketball season tickets, among other purchases, and then tried to report the expenditures as fraudulent in an effort to recoup some of the money, Evansville police say. Shoulders spent more than $41,000 on eBay purchases using a debit card assigned to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account. He would then list the buys on his campaign finance forms as something else.

Kentucky – Grand Jury Declines to Indict Beshear Backer in Investigation of Straw Donations

Yahoo News – Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 11/8/2024

A Franklin County grand jury declined to indict prominent Louisville attorney Sam Aguiar in an investigation into whether Aguiar made excessive campaign contributions in the names of straw donors to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2019 campaign. Special prosecutor Rob Sanders said Aguiar admitted to doing so but did not know his behavior was a crime. Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland recommended the matter be referred to the Kentucky election registry for a civil investigation.

Louisiana – Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law That Requires Classrooms to Display Ten Commandments

MSN – Sara Cline and Kevin McGill (Associated Press) | Published: 11/12/2024

A Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms is “unconstitutional on its face,” a federal judge ruled, ordering state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles said the law had an “overtly religious” purpose, and rejected state officials’ claims the government can mandate the posting of the Ten Commandments because they hold historical significance to the foundation of U.S. law.

Louisiana – Judge Agrees to Temporarily Halt Louisiana Ethics Administrator Hiring, Attorney Says

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

A judge issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the Louisiana Board of Ethics from picking a new administrator. The judge granted the stay at the request of Sens. Regina Barrow and Stewart Cathey. They are suing to halt the board from filling that position over the agency in 2025. Landry and lawmakers have had a fraught relationship with the ethics board in recent years.

Maryland – Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Sentenced 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement

MSN – Randi Ayala, Samantha Gilstrap, and Matt Pusatory (WUSA) | Published: 11/13/2024

Former Prince George’s County Councilperson Jamel Franklin was sentenced to one year in prison after pleaded guilty to felony theft and perjury. Franklin admitted to stealing $124,450.10 from his campaign committee and using those funds to pay for, among other things, his credit card debt, personal rent, and personal subscriptions. He also admitted to concealing his use of campaign funds and falsifying information on reports he signed under the penalties of perjury and submitted to the State Board of Elections.

Michigan – Baum, Altoon Get Vastly Different Sentences in Taylor Public Corruption Case

MSN – Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 11/7/2024

The last two defendants in a public corruption scheme in Taylor, Michigan, involving bribes, a crooked mayor, and perverted housing deals were sentenced recently. Taylor’s former Community Development Manager Jeffrey Baum was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in helping two businesspeople secure contracts in exchange for bribes of all sorts. Real estate developer Haidir Altoon was sentenced to one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a scheme that involved him paying bribes to Baum and former Taylor Mayor Richard Sollars.

New Jersey – Murphy Signs Law Allowing Office Holders, Candidates to Use Campaign Funds for Child Care

Bergen Record – Ashley Balcerzak | Published: 11/8/2024

Public officials and candidates running for office in New Jersey will soon be able to use campaign funds to pay for certain childcare expenses, after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law. Under the law, a candidate or officeholder can use money raised by donors to pay for childcare the person would not have needed if they weren’t running for office or in public life.

New York – Emboldened by Re-election, Trump Renews Bid to Overturn His Conviction

DNyuz – Ben Protess, Kate Christobek, and Jonah Bromwich (New York Times) | Published: 11/12/2024

Donald Trump’s lawyers moved in recent days to throw out his criminal conviction in New York in the wake of his electoral victory, hoping to clear his record of 34 felonies before returning to the White House. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Trump, then asked to pause decisions in the case so it could weigh how to respond. The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, granted the pause, effectively freezing any progress until November 19.

New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Girlfriend Tracey Collins Retires from DOE Amid Department of Investigation Inquiry Into ‘No-Show’ Job Claim

MSN – Chris Sommerfeldt and Cayla Bamberger (New York Daily News) | Published: 11/8/2024

Tracey Collins, Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime girlfriend retired from her high-ranking position in the New York City public school system. The departure comes as the system’s internal watchdog and the Department of Investigation are probing claims that her position amounted to a “no show” job with a six-figure salary. A former Department of Education employee alleged Collins has rarely shown up in person to work and keeps a light schedule mostly made up of virtual appointments.

New York – Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollar from a So-Called Small-Donor ‘Barbecue.’ Video Shows a Lavish Long Island Soiree Instead.

The City – George Joseph (The Guardian), Alyssa Katz, Yoav Gonen, and Katie Hogan | Published: 11/13/2024

A 2021 fundraiser on Long Island for then-mayoral nominee Eric Adams booked 231 donations, many of them from supermarket cashiers, delivery people, and other low wage workers at the New World Mall in Queens, each listed as having made contributions of $249 or $250. The campaign sought $362,000 in matching funds from New York City on the basis of the $55,000 it raised, entirely in small donations. But a video reveals an event, hosted by New World Mall president Lian Wu Shao and his family at their Long Island mansion, that does not appear to have been a grassroots fundraiser.

Ohio – Ex-FirstEnergy Lobbyist Pleads Fifth in Regulatory Investigation, Citing Self-Incrimination Risk

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealwr) | Published: 11/13/2024

A former FirstEnergy lobbyist who worked closely on the company’s scandal ridden lobbying and self-professed bribery campaign in Ohio invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination roughly 100 times during a recent deposition. Joel Bailey, lobbyist who reported to FirstEnergy’s now-indicted government affairs head Mike Dowling, was questioned under oath in a long-stalled state regulatory investigation into the bribery scheme.

Oregon – City Council Candidate Allegedly Offered Patrons Free Bar Entry in Exchange for Campaign Contributions

Willamette Week – Sophie Peel | Published: 11/13/2024

On a Saturday night at Fortune, a popular Portland bar, a city council candidate Ben Hufford allegedly gave bargoers waiting in line a proposal: donate $10 to his campaign, and they would not have to pay the $20 cover charge. Others recall he said they could not enter the bar unless they donated to his campaign. Hufford is a co-owner of Fortune. Campaign finance records show Hufford received 170 campaign donations that night. Nearly all were $10, or multiples of $10.

South Dakota – South Dakota Breaks Record for Number of Women Elected to the State Legislature

MSN – Makenzie Huber (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 11/8/2024

A record number of women will serve in the South Dakota Legislature in 2025. Thirty-nine female lawmakers plan to arrive in Pierre when the legislative session starts in January, besting the previous record from the 2023-2024 Legislature by eight. The growth in female representation in South Dakota is part of a trend nationally, though most Legislatures do not have gender parity. In 2023, women represented at least half of the lawmakers in two states, Nevada and Colorado.

Texas – Audit: Former Austin city manager paid two consultants $554K in 2023, violating city ethics rules

KUT – Andrew Weber and Luz Moreno-Lozano | Published: 11/8/2024

Former interim City Manager Jesús Garza violated Austin’s ethics rules when he hired two former City Hall staffers to serve as consultants after the 2023 winter storm, a report commissioned by the city auditor found. The report said Laura Huffman and Joe Canales were paid $200 and $190 an hour respectively over their 10 months at City Hall. Garza skirted rules requiring a vote from the city council on contracts over $76,000 a year. The audit found both were effectively full-time assistant city managers.

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Sentenced 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement” by Randi Ayala, Samantha Gilstrap, and Matt Pusatory (WUSA) for MSN

New York: “Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollar from a So-Called Small-Donor ‘Barbecue.’ Video Shows a Lavish Long Island Soiree Instead.” by George Joseph (The Guardian), Alyssa Katz, Yoav Gonen, and Katie Hogan for The City

Elections

California: “Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Concedes Recall Defeat, Ending Tenure Marked by City’s Struggles” by Shomik Mukherjee for San Jose Mercury News

National: “Four States Reject Ranked-Choice Voting, Approved in District” by Tim Craig (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Arizona: “Judge Recuses from Arizona Case Over His Email Denouncing Attacks on Harris” by Annabelle Timsit and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Gaetz Resigned Days Before Ethics Investigation Report Expected” by Marianna Sotomayor, Jacqueline Alemany, and Marianne Levine (Washington Post) for MSN

Louisiana: “Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law That Requires Classrooms to Display Ten Commandments” by Sara Cline and Kevin McGill (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?” by David Fahrenthold and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ballot Measure TC passed on November 5, 2024, and amends the City Charter to require lobbyists to register with the Office of City Clerk, pay registration fees, and make disclosures about their lobbying activities.

The measure also makes it unlawful for a lobbyist to deliver any gift to any elected city official, city candidate, city officer, city official, city employee, or a member of a city board, commission, or committee.

Campaign contributions to city candidates are now required to be disclosed in accordance with the California Political Reform Act.

This ballot measure becomes effective once it has been accepted and filed with the Secretary of State.

However, the regulations which pertain to lobbying will be implemented by adoption of an ordinance by City Council at a later date.

Campaign Finance

National: “How ‘Urgent’ Texts Pushed These Donors to Give Thousands of Times to Political Candidates” by Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Elections

California: “In a Historic Shift, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Will Nearly Double in Size” by Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Washington DC: “Trayon White Sr., Facing Bribery Charge, Is Reelected to D.C. Council” by Michael Brice-Saddler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump a Trifecta” by Emily Brooks (The Hill) for MSN

Georgia: “Supreme Court Squashes Mark Meadows’ Push to Move Georgia Election Charges” by Maureen Groppe and Bart Jansen (USA Today) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Legal Questions Surround Trump’s Talk of Political Prosecutions” by Ryan Tarinelli (Roll Call) for MSN

New York: “Emboldened by Re-election, Trump Renews Bid to Overturn His Conviction” by Ben Protess, Kate Christobek, and Jonah Bromwich (New York Times) for DNyuz

Texas: “Audit: Former Austin city manager paid two consultants $554K in 2023, violating city ethics rules” by Andrew Weber and Luz Moreno-Lozano for KUT

Campaign Finance

National: “Elon Musk’s $1M Voter Giveaways Were Fixed Lotteries, Lawsuits Say” by Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Criminal Prosecutor Tapped to Lead San Diego Ethics Panel, as Voters Hand It More Power” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

California: “Newsom Fined $13,000 for Failing to Report on Time Payments Made at His Request” by Sandra McDonald (Los Angeles Times) for Yahoo News

Louisiana: “Judge Agrees to Temporarily Halt Louisiana Ethics Administrator Hiring, Attorney Says” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News

New York: “NYC Mayor Adams’ Girlfriend Tracey Collins Retires from DOE Amid Department of Investigation Inquiry Into ‘No-Show’ Job Claim” by Chris Sommerfeldt and Cayla Bamberger (New York Daily News) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Trump, Allies Signal They Will Try to Call the Shots for Republican-Led Senate” by Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Florida: “Lobbying Firm Promotes Katie Wiles as Her Mother Becomes Trump’s Chief of Staff” by David Bauerlein (Jacksonville Florida Times-Union) for MSN

Procurement

National: “Minority-Owned Firms Face ‘Crisis’ as Affirmative Action Programs Fall” by Julian Mark (Washington Post) for MSN

A special primary election will be held November 16 for state Senate districts 10 and 32.

These elections are the result of Sen. John McGuire and Sen. Suhas Subramanyam winning elections for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats currently have a one-seat majority in the Senate.

The general election date has not been announced yet, but according to state law, vacancies must be filled within 30 days of the vacancy.

On December 16, a federal by-election will be held for the seat in the House of Commons representing Cloverdale–Langley City in the province of British Columbia.

On June 3 , the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, had received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Cloverdale–Langley City (British Columbia) became vacant following the resignation of John Aldag.

Aldag resigned on May 27 in order to run in a provincial election in British Columbia, which he subsequently lost.

The date for the election was not announced until November 10, which signaled the start of the by-election period.

Campaign Finance

Indiana: “Police: Shoulders spent thousands in campaign dollars on baseball cards, IU season tickets” by Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) for Yahoo News

Kentucky: “Grand Jury Declines to Indict Beshear Backer in Investigation of Straw Donations” by Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) for Yahoo News

Elections

South Dakota: “South Dakota Breaks Record for Number of Women Elected to the State Legislature” by Makenzie Huber (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Federal Judge Suspends Deadlines in Trump Jan. 6 Criminal Case” by Perry Stein and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Could Pick Government’s Top Ethics Official – After Key Ally Blocked Biden’s Choice” by Fredreka Schouten (CNN) for MSN

Florida: “Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Martinez Convicted of Taking $15K to Help Constituent” by Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) for MSN

Michigan: “Baum, Altoon Get Vastly Different Sentences in Taylor Public Corruption Case” by Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “A Spike in Demand, and Fees, for Lobbyists with Ties to Trump” by Kenneth Vogel and Kate Kelly (New York Times) for DNyuz

On November 5, voters in the City of Los Angeles approved Ballot Measure ER, which changes the City Ethics Commission’s authority and operational independence.

The measure establishes a minimum annual budget for the City Ethics Commission; increases the commission’s authority over spending decision and hiring matters; and allows the commission to obtain outside counsel in limited circumstances.

It also increases the penalties for violations of the city’s ethics laws from $5,000 to $15,000 per violation.

The measure passed overwhelmingly with almost 75% of voter approval and will become effective December 6.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called upon lawmakers to convene for a special session.

The session is a direct response to the reelection of Donald Trump and will focus on promoting safeguards for the state’s policies on climate changes, reproductive rights, and immigration laws.

The special session will take place on December 2, 2024.

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.