Caroline Hunter announced that she will resign from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on July 3, 2020, leaving the agency without a quorum.

Hunter was appointed in 2008 by President George W. Bush for a six-year term, but stayed on for another six years due to a replacement not being appointed.

After her retirement, Hunter will be joining the philanthropic group Stand Together.

President Trump has nominated Allen Dickerson, the legal director for the conservative non-profit Institute of Free Speech, to replace Hunter.

The FEC, however, had only just regained a quorum this May after nine months of being unable to conduct business.

This delay was due to having only three of the agency’s six seats filled.

On August 31, Federal Election Commission (FEC) Vice Chairman Matthew Petersen will leave the agency, resulting in an FEC without the minimum quorum of four commissioners to make decisions on regulations or enforcements.

The FEC requires at least four commissioners to agree for any official action.

Peterson, who has served on the FEC for 11 years, announced his resignation on August 26 with a letter to the President Trump without stating a reason for his leaving.

A replacement for Petersen, a Republican, must be selected by the president and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

No more than three members of the FEC may be registered with the same political party.

The remaining FEC commissioners will be Chair Ellen L. Weintraub, a Democrat, Caroline C. Hunter, a Republican, and Steven T. Walther, an Independent.

On April 26, among the items the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is scheduled to consider will be a directive concerning FEC rules when the commission has fewer than four members.

On April 19, Chair Caroline C. Hunter submitted a memo to the FEC stating her intent to ask the Office of the General Counsel to prepare a pubic memorandum analyzing the current laws and rules applicable when the commission has fewer than four members, the number needed for a quorum. Hunter also wants the commission to seek public comment on this issue after the Office of General Counsel’s memorandum is submitted to the FEC.

Additionally, the commission is scheduled to consider examples of internet communication disclaimers, which will be circulated at the meeting.

On December 14, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) elected Caroline C. Hunter as its chairwoman for 2018. Hunter replaces Steven T. Walther, who was appointed to the commission in 2006.

The chairmanship is a rotating, one-year position. Ellen L. Weintraub was elected as Vice Chair for next year.

Additionally, at the same regularly held open meeting, the FEC unanimously approved 12 legislative recommendations be submitted for consideration to the U.S. Congress.

The recommendations concern subject matters such as electronically filing senate reports, increasing and indexing for inflation registration and reporting thresholds, and prohibiting fraudulent practices of PACs.

State and Federal is sponsoring a breakfast hosted by Women In Government Relations’ PACs, Politics, & Grassroots task force with FEC Chair Hunter.  If you are in Washington next Wednesday, June 6,  join us for a conversation about FEC activities and priorities in this election year.

This particularly timely discussion will help PAC leaders, government relations staff and anyone associated with the political process understand what the landscape looks like for elections in the U.S. moving forward.  With some major nuances present this year that have never been present before, this is a great opportunity to know what to do, what not to do, what your colleagues are doing and what the FEC will be focusing on in the coming months!

Hope to see you there!