LobbyComply Blog

Gov. Larry Rhoden issued an executive order establishing a special legislative session to be held September 23 to pass funding for a new prison facility in Sioux Falls. This is the 12th time lawmakers have been called into special session since 2000.

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Campaign Finance

Georgia: “A Georgia Republican Governor Candidate Questions Legality of Rival’s $10M Campaign Loan” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

Mississippi: “Indicted Jackson Prosecutor’s Latest Campaign Finance Report Rife with Errors” by Caleb Bedillion (The Marshall Project) and Anna Wolfe for Mississippi Today

Ethics

National: “Trump Reshaped the Supreme Court. Now Emergency Appeals Are Helping Him Reshape the Government” by Mark Sherman and Chris Megerian (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Trump Survived Many Scandals, but the Epstein Story Poses a New Test” by Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Is Canceled by CBS and Will End in May 2026” by Alicia Rancilio and Andrew Dalton (Associated Press) for MSN

North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commissioners to Evaluate ‘Strained’ Relationship with Attorney General’s Office” by Mary Steuer for North Dakota Monitor

Pennsylvania: “Big-Dollar Donors Are Helping Fund Fixes at the Governor’s Mansion. For Now, We Don’t Know Who They Are.” by Angela Couloumbis for Spotlight PA

Redistricting

Florida: “In Boon for House GOP, Florida Supreme Court Sides with DeSantis, Upholds Congressional Map” by Gary Fineout (Politico) for MSN

On July 14, legislation was introduced in the Council of the District of Columbia addressing campaign finance rules, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in campaign finance advertising.

Bill B26-0329, the Campaign Finance Modernization Amendment Act of 2025, would require a disclaimer on an advertisement containing an image, audio, or video that has been manipulated or altered by AI, and would prohibit the distribution of a deepfake within 90 days of an election.

The bill also enacts legislation requiring additional reporting from committees not currently required to submit more than two reports a year and prohibits the Office of Campaign Finance from accepting a report that omits certain legally required information. Other changes in the legislation include amending the definition of “coordinate” or “coordination” to capture conduct from other political committees, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees that are not affiliated with a public official; providing the Office of Campaign Finance a specified timeline to conduct an investigation on a complaint; and establishing an advisory group consisting of current and former campaign treasurers, campaign finance experts, and donation platforms to meet at least four times a year to consult on potential process improvements for the campaign finance system and the Fair Elections Program.

It would also prohibit a candidate who was expelled from the council from being certified under the Fair Elections Program.

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National/Federal

Texts, Emails Bolster Whistleblower Account of DOJ Defying Court Order

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 7/10/2025

A fired Justice Department employee has given Congress a cache of internal communications supporting his claim that a top Trump appointee suggested prosecutors defy a judge’s order and that other officials directed attorneys to not be forthcoming in court. The messages provided by attorney Erez Reuveni show him seeking assurances from Justice Department and Homeland Security officials that they would abide by a judge’s order to halt the in-progress deportation of roughly 130 Venezuelans to El Salvador under an obscure wartime law.

Bondi Fires 20 Justice Dept. Employees Involved in Trump Prosecutions

MSN – Perry Stein and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 7/12/2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi fired multiple Justice Department employees who were involved in two federal prosecutions of President Trump during the Biden administration. In total, 20 people were fired from the department, including two prosecutors who worked under former special counsel Jack Smith. The rest of the dismissed employees were support staff and U.S. marshals who assisted those prosecutors.

Epstein Outcry Prompts Warning to Trump from MAGA Leaders: ‘A huge risk’

MSN – Natalie Allison (Washington Post) | Published: 7/13/2025

At a gathering of some of President Trump’s most devout supporters – young conservatives spending a weekend strategizing on how to further the MAGA movement – a cloud hung over the convention center. Attendees of Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit erupted in boos over the administration’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased child predator. The concerns raised at the conference followed days of conservative foment, fueling anxiety among Trump allies that conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein, promoted by Trump and administration officials before they took office, will continue to haunt them.

Vested Interests. Influence Muscle. At RFK Jr.’s HHS, It’s Not Pharma. It’s Wellness.

MSN – Stephanie Armour (KFF Health News) | Published: 7/15/2025

While Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lambastes federal agencies he says are overly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, he and some other figures of the Make America Healthy Again movement have their own financial ties to a vast and largely unregulated $6.3 trillion global wellness industry they also support and promote. Kennedy and four advisers, three of whom have been tapped for official government roles, earned at least $3.2 million in fees and salaries from their work opposing the drug industry and promoting wellness in 2022 and 2023, according to a KFF Health News review.

DOJ Hits States with Broad Requests for Voter Rolls, Election Data

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

The Trump administration’s recent efforts to gather data on voters and inspect voting equipment have rattled state and local election officials from both parties who have spent years contending with threats, harassment, and litigation. Under the Constitution, states are responsible for running elections, and the federal government plays a limited role that must be spelled out by Congress. Election officials fear the administration could try to build a national file that includes personal information about voters or impose rules that would boot eligible voters from the rolls and make it harder to cast ballots.

NIH Official Fired Amid Probe of Contract Used to Potentially Hire Spouse, Officials Say

MSN – Carolyn Johnson, Hannah Natanson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 7/15/2025

A senior National Institutes of Health (NIH) leader was fired amid an investigation into a contract on autism and other topics that could have benefited his spouse. A $3.3 million NIH contract to Argo Chasing named Trish Duffy Schnabel, the wife of NIH’s chief operating officer, on its list of staff. The award supports work on several matters including autism, a topic that is a priority of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. NIH’s chief operating officer, Eric Schnabel, was escorted out of the building just three months into his new job.

Critics of Trump’s Presidential Library Fundraising Say ‘There Are No Rules’

MSN – Madeleine May (CBS News) | Published: 7/16/2025

President Trump’s efforts to direct millions of dollars to his future presidential library has drawn fresh attention to a lack of visibility into the identities or potential interests of the donors who are funding it, a longstanding concern facing past presidents from both parties. Two Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would regulate fundraising for presidential libraries.

Supreme Court Justice Pauses Ruling Weakening Voting Rights Act

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh paused a federal appeals court ruling that bars individuals in some states from filing lawsuits claiming discrimination based on the landmark Voting Rights Act. The administrative stay will allow the Supreme Court more time to consider whether to take up an appeal by Native American tribes in North Dakota who claim the ruling endangers a powerful tool to ensure equitable voting laws.

DOJ Fires Maurene Comey, Prosecutor Involved in Epstein, Diddy Cases

MSN – Perry Stein, Shayna Jacobs, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

Federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, who worked on the criminal cases of Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, was fired. Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, was also a prosecutor in the recent trial of Sean Combs, the entertainer known as Diddy. The notice informing the younger Comey of her termination did not provide a reason, citing the broad powers afforded to the president in the Constitution.

Trump Accuses Sen. Adam Schiff of Mortgage Fraud in New Attack on Critic

MSN – Rachel Siegel (Washington Post) | Published: 7/16/2025

President Trump accused U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of mortgage fraud, and a senior administration official said a criminal case had been referred to the Justice Department, in a sharp escalation of the White House’s attacks on vocal Trump critics. Trump said Fannie Mae’s financial crimes division found Schiff had a “sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud,” which the president claimed, without providing specifics, had involved misstating which home Schiff used as a primary residence, helping him secure a cheaper mortgage.

Over 1 in 5 High-Level Trump Picks Held Crypto, Post Analysis Finds

MSN – Arfa Momin, Clara Ence Morse, and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 7/17/2025

The Washington Post identified nearly 70 nominees and officials of the Trump administration who held cryptocurrency or have invested in crypto or blockchain companies. The appointment of multiple officials with crypto holdings comes at a time when the administration has taken a hands-off approach to regulation of digital currencies. The administration has also backed policies supported by the crypto industry, including legislation in Congress.

IRS Weakens Johnson Amendment – Nonprofits Push Back

Nonprofit Quarterly – Isaiah Thompson | Published: 7/15/2025

The IRS stated in a court document recently that churches and other houses of worship can endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status, an announcement that would seem to overturn decades of established law firmly prohibiting all nonprofit organizations, including churches, from directly engaging in partisan politics. Nonprofit sector leaders warn that the blurring of the longstanding line separating nonprofits from politics could erode decades of public trust in charitable organizations, allow even more “dark money” to flow into politics via nonprofits, and potentially reshape American politics.

Bondi Ousts Justice Department’s Top Ethics Official

Yahoo News – Scott MacFarlane (CBS News) | Published: 7/15/2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi ousted the senior ethics attorney at the Justice Department who advised her and other senior officials on employee ethics, the latest firing that has come amid an ongoing purge of department employees. Joseph Tirrell wrote on LinkedIn that in his role as the director of the Departmental Ethics Office, he was responsible for advising Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on employee ethics and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the department’s ethics program.

From the States and Municipalities

California – OpenAI Accuses Nonprofit of Musk Ties, Lobbying Violations, in California Complaint

MSN – Chase DiFeliciantonio and Christine Mui (Politico) | Published: 7/10/2025

OpenAI is asking the California Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate a nonprofit that challenged its multi-billion-dollar business plans, alleging violations of state lobbying laws and again raising questions about the group’s connections to its rival, Elon Musk. The complaint accuses the Coalition for AI Nonprofit Integrity of likely fronting a fake leader and failing to report lobbying payments related to a state bill that would have potentially prevented the ChatGPT maker from converting to a for-profit entity.

California – Federal Judge Orders LAPD to Stop Shooting Journalists with Rubber Bullets at Protests

MSN – Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/11/2025

A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks Los Angeles police officers from using rubber projectiles and other so-called less-lethal munitions against reporters covering protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. U.S. District Court Judge Hernán Vera said a coalition of press rights organizations successfully argued that a court injunction was necessary to protect journalists and others exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

California – Federal Judge Halts Indiscriminate Immigration Stops in Los Angeles and Beyond

MSN – Brittny Mejia and Rachel Uranga (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/11/2025

A federal judge found the Department of Homeland Security has been making stops and arrests in Los Angeles immigration raids without probable cause and ordered the department to stop detaining individuals based solely on race, spoken language, or occupation. Once someone was in custody, the complaint argues, their constitutional rights were further violated by being held in “deplorable” conditions without access to a lawyer, or regular food and water.

California – S.F. Planning Commissioner Who Voted on Former Employer’s Projects Vows to Recuse Herself

MSN – Tom Li (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 7/15/2025

The vice president of the San Francisco Planning Commission said she will recuse herself from future discussions of projects involving her former employer, an architecture firm that paid her at least $10,000 a year since 2012. Planning Commissioner Kathrin Moore said the time she cast votes on projects in which Skidmore, Owings & Merrill played a role, she believed she was allowed by city rules to do so.

Connecticut – Elections Commission Closes 21 ‘Campaign-in-a-Box’ Investigations

Connecticut Inside Investigator – Marc Fitch | Published: 7/15/2025

The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) voted to dismiss complaints against twenty-one campaigns for state House and Senate candidates over “campaign-in-a-box” concerns raised by auditors, but SEEC officials indicate they will be updating regulations to address the issue in future elections. “Campaign-in-a-box” is a term used to describe when a campaign committee will turn over most or all their taxpayer-funded citizen election program grant money to a consultant who then takes care of most campaign spending.

District of Columbia – D.C. Ward 8 Voters Return Indicted Trayon White to Office After Expulsion

MSN – Meagan Flynn, Jenny Gathright, and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) | Published: 7/15/2025

Trayon White reclaimed his seat on the District of Columbia Council in a special election, five months after he was expelled over his pending federal bribery case. White stands accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his influence to steer contracts. He retained a decade’s worth of name recognition and close relationships with many in his ward, who have long been distrustful of police and government, believing White was unfairly arrested or deserved another chance. His trial is scheduled for January and could result in his removal from office if convicted.

Florida – Ron Book Victorious in Ethics Dispute Over Alleged Gift Violation

Florida Today – Peter Schorsch | Published: 7/16/2025

Ron Book, one of the most influential lobbyists in Florida, won a lawsuit filed against Palm Beach County’s Ethics Commission after it claimed he violated a local gift ban. A panel of judges found the Ethics Commission acted without legal authority in citing Book for providing a gift in excess of the allowable limit of $100 to Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter.

Florida – Leon Commission Forgoes Bid Process, Breaks Up with Longtime Lobbyists for Southern Group

Yahoo News – Arianna Otero (Tallahassee Democrat) | Published: 7/11/2025

Leon County commissioners voted to abruptly break up with their longtime state and federal lobbying partners, Squire Patton Boggs and Capitol Alliance Group, in exchange for one of Florida’s top lobbying firms, The Southern Group. At their 2025 State and Federal Legislative Priorities Workshop, county staff provided commissioners with options for additional lobbying services focusing primarily on appropriations, working to secure money for county projects and initiatives. In January, the county entered into a contract with the Southern Group for $40,000.

Illinois – Former ComEd Lobbyist John Hooker Gets 18 Months in Prison for Role in Madigan Bribery Scheme

WTTW – Matt Masterson | Published: 7/14/2025

John Hooker, one of the four former Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) officials convicted of conspiring to bribe ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500,000. Hooker spent decades at ComEd, including serving as the company’s executive vice president of legislative and external affairs. He then worked as an external lobbyist for the utility, a role through which prosecutors said he remained “directly involved in ComEd’s efforts to advance its legislative agenda in Springfield.”

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson, Inspector General Reach Compromise on Ethics Reform

Yahoo News – Jake Sheridan (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/14/2025

A long fight by ethics advocates to restrict the powers of City Hall’s mayor-controlled top attorney has ended with a compromise both sides said they support. The city council’s Ethics Committee advanced an ordinance that restricts when Chicago’s Law Department can attend investigative interviews and lays out when city attorneys can claim attorney-client privilege to avoid sharing records sought by the inspector general.

Illinois – Ex-Speaker Michael Madigan Asks to Remain Free on Bond Pending Appeal

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/15/2025

Attorneys for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan formally asked that he remain free on bond pending appeal of his conviction on corruption charges, arguing he is not a flight risk and there are complex legal issues which, if resolved in his favor, will require a new trial. Much of the uncertainty stems from a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that substantially reined in prosecutions under a federal bribery law known as 666, its number in the federal code.

Maine – Another Voter-Backed Maine Law Regulating Campaign Finance Halted, but the Case Is Far from Over

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/16/2025

A federal judge blocked the implementation of a law Maine voters approved in 2024 limiting the amount of money that can be donated to super PACs. The law set a $5,000 limit on contributions to PACs that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates. It also requires the disclosure of all donors who contribute toward independent expenditures, regardless of amount. Plaintiffs in the case placed the issue on the ballot with the goal of eventually bringing the question of the legality of such limits to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Maine – Maine Legislature Opts for Status Quo on Campaign Finance Regulations

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/14/2025

The Maine Legislature largely opted to maintain the status quo regarding campaign finance regulations this year, rejecting attempts to expand clean elections, require more transparency into who is spending in elections, and ban direct corporate contributions to candidates. The most common reasons cited by lawmakers, who voted down many of these bills in committee before the proposals even reached the chambers, were the tight budget year, and the plans did not get to the root causes of money in politics.

Maine – First Circuit Rules Maine Ban on Foreign Government Election Spending Likely Unconstitutional

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/14/2025

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled a law passed by Maine voters in 2023 prohibiting foreign government spending in elections is likely unconstitutional. The decision, which affirmed a District Court’s temporary stay on the state from enforcing the law, is not the final word, as it will next return to the lower court. The law prevents foreign government-influenced entities, defined as companies with five percent or more foreign government ownership, from donating to state and local ballot measures.

Michigan – After Benson Violation, GOP Eyes Change to Michigan Campaign Finance Law

Bridge Michigan – Jordyn Hermani | Published: 7/15/2025

Months after an investigation found Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson accidentally violated a state campaign finance law but could not be punished for it, Michigan Republicans are pushing to expand the attorney general’s powers of prosecution. Benson, who is running as a 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, unknowingly violated state law when she held a campaign press conference in a state building. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued Benson a warning but said because of “legislative oversight,” state law would not have allowed the attorney general to enforce additional penalties against the secretary of state.

Missouri – After Scathing Report, Missouri Governor Fills Vacancies on Ethics Watchdog

MSN – Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) | Published: 7/11/2025

The Missouri Ethics Commission will now have enough members to investigate complaints of ethical misconduct after Gov. Mike Kehoe filled two vacancies. The appointments from Kehoe came just days after a scathing report became public criticizing the fact that the commission did not have enough members to conduct investigations, issue fines, or hold meetings.

New York – Leader of Pro-Eric Adams Super PAC Banking on Crypto Cash

MSN – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 7/14/2025

A leader of the super PAC supporting New York City Mayor Eric Adams hopes to raise upwards of $10 million from the cryptocurrency community and alarmed government ethics groups in the process. In May, Eric Lerner, president of the Empower NYC super PAC, attended the same Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas where Adams spoke. The decision by Lerner to speak about the PAC’s work at the same conference that the mayor, in his official capacity, delivered a crypto-focused address on city policy has stoked discomfort inside ethics organizations.

New York – Cuomo Digs in to Take on Mamdani Again in NYC Mayoral Race

MSN – Laura Nahmias (Bloomberg) | Published: 7/14/2025

Andrew Cuomo said he plans to remain in the race for New York City mayor, brushing off calls to step aside after his shocking loss to Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary. In the immediate aftermath of the June primary, in which Cuomo lost to the 33-year-old democratic socialist by 12 points, speculation swirled that Cuomo would ultimately stop campaigning for the general election. But people familiar with Cuomo’s thinking said he believes he is a more viable candidate to challenge Mamdani in November than incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.

New York – Mayor Adams Again Denied Matching Funds as Campaign Finance Board Shifts Tactics

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) | Published: 7/15/2025

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board again denied Mayor Eric Adams public matching funds for his reelection effort, but the panel switched up the reason for depriving him of the cash after a key judicial ruling. Since December 2024, the board has withheld more than $3 million in matching funds for Adams’ campaign, in large part due to his federal indictment, which accused him of taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors.

North Dakota – Governor Questions Scope of Ethics Commission Authority

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 7/14/2025

Gov. Kelly Armstrong expressed concerns that a recent North Dakota Ethics Commission advisory opinion effectively created a new law without input from the Legislature. The opinion addressed whether it is unethical for a public official or someone running for office to use campaign money to pay for childcare or security services. Armstrong’s remarks came after his public testimony on the Ethics Commission’s proposed travel disclosure rules.

Oklahoma – Ethics Commission Votes on Cases Involving Gamefowl Commission, Rep. Ajay Pittman, Shelley Zumwalt

NonDoc – Bennett Brinkman | Published: 7/10/2025

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to open another formal investigation into state Rep. Ajay Pittman. The commission also voted to make more information public on the first case against her, which was approved for litigation in Oklahoma County District Court. In addition, commissioners revealed the agency is investigating the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission, a nonprofit organization that advocates for easing laws related to cockfighting. They also voted to execute a settlement agreement with former Employment Security Commission Chief Executive Officer Shelley Zumwalt.

Oregon – An Oregon Lawmaker Pushed to Fix His Road with Wildfire Recovery Money. He Says It’s His Job

MSN – Hillary Borrud (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 7/13/2025

A powerful Oregon lawmaker will see the roads in his subdivision resurfaced using federal wildfire recovery money after he wielded his position and access as a legislator to press state housing leaders to clear hurdles raised by lower-level employees who repeatedly questioned whether the project qualified for funding. Rep. David Gomberg regularly contacted state housing leaders from his legislative email account about a $760,000 grant application and spoke directly with them in his capacity as a lawmaker about that project and others, records show.

Oregon – Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves

MSN – Mike Rogoway (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 7/15/2025

The Oregon Department of Justice says officials in Morrow County bought a fiber-optic business from a local nonprofit at a lowball price, improperly capitalizing on Amazon’s booming data center business in the small community and generating a windfall for themselves. A civil complaint accuses eight people, including four former officials in Morrow County and state Rep. Greg Smith, of exploiting a nonprofit called Inland Development Corp., which was founded at the beginning of the century to provide internet access to rural schools, hospitals, and government offices.

Oregon – Former Information Officer Implicated in Latest Ethics Ruling for Oregon Bourbon Scandal

Oregon Capital Chronicle – Shaanth Nanguneri | Published: 7/16/2025

A former high-ranking official in the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission used his status and inside knowledge to improperly acquire bottles of highly sought-after liquor, the Government Ethics Commission concluded. In recent weeks, the commission has been finalizing investigations into six former top officials for using their positions to obtain rare, expensive bottles of liquor that normal Oregonians can usually only access through a lottery. The latest case involves Boba Subasic, the commission’s former chief information officer.

Tennessee – Tennessee Campaign Finance Watchdog Rejects Settlement Offer on Lawmaker Complaint

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 7/16/2025

Tennessee’s campaign finance watchdog is balking at a PAC’s offer to pay a $2,500 settlement in connection with illicit attack ads against a 2024 Republican House candidate. Tom Lawless, chairperson of the Registry of Election Finance, questioned the proposal at a recent board meeting and said the offer is not high enough. He added that political professionals know the state’s rules for running campaigns yet try to skirt them and then get away with paying a small penalty.

Texas – How Republicans’ Texas Gerrymandering Plan Could Backfire and Help Dems

MSN – Nicholas Wu, Andrew Howard, and Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 7/10/2025

Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Legislature to consider congressional redistricting during a special session set to begin July 21, citing the Trump administration’s concerns. If the Legislature, where Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, redraws map lines ahead of next year’s midterm elections, it could bolster the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House. But some Texas Republicans have voiced concerns that the plan could backfire and endanger incumbent conservatives.

Texas – Here’s the Donor Behind the Mysterious Trust That Gave Greg Abbott $1M

MSN – Benjamin Wermund (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 7/16/2025

Joe Gebbia, an Austin billionaire, Airbnb co-founder, and close friend of Elon Musk, is behind a mysterious $1 million donation to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor’s campaign reported the gift from Peachtree Trust, one of four million-dollar donations Abbott received in June, in a new filing. But the campaign did not include any information on who is involved in the trust, which experts said could be a violation of campaign finance rules.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the ban on contributions from foreign government-influenced entities is likely unconstitutional. The ban, which was approved by voters in a ballot measure in 2023, was found to be too broad and overly restrictive on speech. The case will now be sent back to the district court.

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Tennessee has called for a special election in U.S. House District 7 to replace retiring Congressman Mark Green. Green decided to resign his seat after voting for President Trump’s spending plan. His final day in Congress will be July 20. The special primary election is set for October 7, with the special general election set for December 2.

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Campaign Finance

National: “Critics of Trump’s Presidential Library Fundraising Say ‘There Are No Rules'” by Madeleine May (CBS News) for MSN

Maine: “Another Voter-Backed Maine Law Regulating Campaign Finance Halted, but the Case Is Far from Over” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

New York: “Mayor Adams Again Denied Matching Funds as Campaign Finance Board Shifts Tactics” by Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Tennessee: “Tennessee Campaign Finance Watchdog Rejects Settlement Offer on Lawmaker Complaint” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “DOJ Hits States with Broad Requests for Voter Rolls, Election Data” by Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “NIH Official Fired Amid Probe of Contract Used to Potentially Hire Spouse, Officials Say” by Carolyn Johnson, Hannah Natanson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Ron Book Victorious in Ethics Dispute Over Alleged Gift Violation” by Peter Schorsch for Florida Today

Oregon: “Oregon DOJ Says Public Officials Exploited Nonprofit to Cash in on Amazon Data Centers, Reap Millions for Themselves” by Mike Rogoway (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Beginning January 19, 2026, the Canadian federal lobbyist registration threshold for organizations and corporations will be lowered. On July 16, the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada issued new interpretation bulletins concerning the “significant part of the duties” threshold for when organizations and corporations must be registered under the Lobbying Act.

One bulletin lowers the lobbyist registration threshold from the current 32 hours per month to 8 hours in a rolling four-week period.

A second updated interpretation addresses the Lobbying Act’s revolving door provision and interprets a significant part of a designated public office holder’s work as 8 hours or more in any given consecutive four-week period. This would include any time spent preparing for and participating in oral communications with public office holders as well as drafting written communications to public office holders.

An additional bulletin addressing the transitional period for former designated public office holders employed by corporations was also issued.

The commissioner believes these interpretations are consistent with the Lobbying Act.

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Gov. Greg Abbott called a special election to be held on November 4 for state Senate District 9. The special election will determine who will serve the unexpired term of Sen. Kelly Hancock, who resigned to become acting state comptroller. The special election coincides with the Texas uniform election for local offices and ballot measures.

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Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Elections Commission Closes 21 ‘Campaign-in-a-Box’ Investigations” by Marc Fitch for Connecticut Inside Investigator

Michigan: “After Benson Violation, GOP Eyes Change to Michigan Campaign Finance Law” by Jordyn Hermani for Bridge Michigan

Elections

Washington DC: “D.C. Ward 8 Voters Return Indicted Trayon White to Office After Expulsion” by Meagan Flynn, Jenny Gathright, and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “IRS Weakens Johnson Amendment – Nonprofits Push Back” by Isaiah Thompson for Nonprofit Quarterly

Ethics

National: “Vested Interests. Influence Muscle. At RFK Jr.’s HHS, It’s Not Pharma. It’s Wellness.” by Stephanie Armour (KFF Health News) for MSN

National: “Bondi Ousts Justice Department’s Top Ethics Official” by Scott MacFarlane (CBS News) for Yahoo News

Illinois: “Ex-Speaker Michael Madigan Asks to Remain Free on Bond Pending Appeal” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

North Dakota: “Governor Questions Scope of Ethics Commission Authority” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Beginning on July 14, a new federal procurement policy regarding foreign vendors took effect.

The new policy requires all new non-defense procurements over $10,000 involving an open competition by or on behalf of any federal department or agency of Canada by a foreign supplier be limited to whether the solicitation is subject to a trade agreement between Canada and the supplier’s jurisdiction. If a supplier is from a jurisdiction that does not have a trade agreement with Canada and applies to a procurement process, it will no longer be eligible to compete, with limited exceptions. Canadian suppliers will continue to be eligible to compete for all federal procurement opportunities.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat issued a Contracting Policy Notice on July 10 regarding the policy, entitled the Interim Policy on Reciprocal Procurement, for all departments and agencies that have delegated authority for procurement from the Minister responsible for Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Contracts and solicitations posted prior to July 14 are not subject to this new rule

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Campaign Finance

Maine: “Maine Legislature Opts for Status Quo on Campaign Finance Regulations” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

Maine: “First Circuit Rules Maine Ban on Foreign Government Election Spending Likely Unconstitutional” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

New York: “Leader of Pro-Eric Adams Super PAC Banking on Crypto Cash” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for MSN

Elections

New York: “Cuomo Digs in to Take on Mamdani Again in NYC Mayoral Race” by Laura Nahmias (Bloomberg) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Federal Judge Orders LAPD to Stop Shooting Journalists with Rubber Bullets at Protests” by Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

California: “Federal Judge Halts Indiscriminate Immigration Stops in Los Angeles and Beyond” by Brittny Mejia and Rachel Uranga (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “Epstein Outcry Prompts Warning to Trump from MAGA Leaders: ‘A huge risk'” by Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Former ComEd Lobbyist John Hooker Gets 18 Months in Prison for Role in Madigan Bribery Scheme” by Matt Masterson for WTTW

Gov. Tim Walz issued a writ of special election for September 16, to fill the House District 34B seat vacancy caused by the death of Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was killed in June along with her husband in a targeted attack. Hortman, who was among the most influential Minnesota elected officials in the past decade, served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2024.

Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special election for August 26, to fill the Iowa Senate District 1 vacancy caused by the death of Republican Sen. Rocky De Witt. The election will determine whether Republicans regain their two-thirds majority in the chamber. Republican Christopher Prosch will run against Democrat Catelin Drey and the winner will serve out the remainder of De Witt’s term, which ends January 2027.

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