Lytle v. FEC

On December 13, 1994, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee dismissed this case without prejudice due to plaintiff's failure to attend the December 9 initial case management conference. (Civil Action No. 3-94-0946.)

Terry L. Lytle, an independent U.S. Senate candidate, had asked the court to find it unconstitutional for U.S. Senate candidates in Tennessee to accept contributions from out-of-state sources.

The plaintiff argued that:

• Senators who have received out-of-state money compromise the constitutional rights of residents of every state to elect and have the undivided loyalty of two U.S. Senators;
• Citizens of wealthier and more populous states can achieve greater influence in Congress at the expense of the citizens of less affluent and less populous states by making out-of-state contributions; and
• By accepting out-of-state contributions, Senators dilute the concept of a legislative body that represents 50 unique state constituencies, and create a possible convergence of interests at several levels of the federal government in violation of the principles of checks and balances and the separation of powers.

The plaintiff also had asked the court to remove the defendant candidates from the Senate race or postpone the Senate election and order them to refund all out-of-state contributions.

Source:   FEC Record — February 1995; January 1995. Lytle v. FEC, No. 3-94-0946 (M.D. Tenn. Oct. 25, 1994).