Use of candidate’s name in projects

A nonconnected committee may not use the name of a candidate in its own name. FEC rules also prohibit a nonconnected committee from using a candidate’s name in the name of a special project, such as a fundraising or advertising project, unless the name clearly shows opposition to the identified candidate.

For example, if the Fund for a Better Government supported Candidate Jones, it could not, when soliciting contributions, identify the particular fundraising effort as “Citizens for Jones,” even if the committee also included a disclaimer identifying itself by its real name. However, if the committee opposed Jones, it could name a fundraising project “Defeat Jones” or something similar.