On January 21, Federal Election Commission (FEC) Vice Chair Steven T. Walther announced he would be stepping down as commissioner. In his press release, Walther stated he will step down upon the nomination and confirmation of his replacement.

Serving on the FEC since 2006, Commissioner Walther is a politically independent appointee. No more than three members of the FEC may be registered with the same political party.

The remaining FEC commissioners are Republicans Allen Dickerson, current chair, James E. “Trey” Trainor III, and Sean J. Cooksey; and Democrats Ellen L. Weintraub and Shana M. Broussard.

On December 17, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) elected Matthew Petersen as its chairman and Steven T. Walther as its vice chairman for 2016.

Peterson has been a commissioner with the FEC since 2008 and Walther has been a commissioner since 2006. Each previously served as both chairman and vice chairman. They are two of the four commissioners serving with expired terms. Normally, each member serves a six-year term with a rotating chairmanship among the members with no member serving as chairman more than once during his or her term.