FEC approves two advisory opinions, elects Commissioner Shana M. Broussard as Chair effective July 1, 2025; Commissioner Allen J. Dickerson announces departure from the Commission

WASHINGTON—At its open meeting today, the Federal Election Commission approved two advisory opinions and discussed two additional matters. The Commission also elected Commissioner Shana M. Broussard to serve as Chair of the Commission for the remainder of 2025, effective July 1. Commissioner Allen J. Dickerson announced his resignation from the Commission, effective today.

Advisory Opinion 2025-05 (Politicalmeetings.com) The Commission approved an advisory opinion in response to a request from Politicalmeetings.com (PM.com) in response to its proposal to allow its subscribers to make small monthly contributions to candidates and national political party committees via PM.com’s web-based platform and to provide subscribers access to non-public information about political meetings and events with recipient candidates. The Commission concluded that PM.com’s proposal is permissible under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), and Commission regulations and it would not result in the making of contributions from PM.com or from the sole member of PM.com to candidates or national political party committees. During the discussion, the Commission heard from the requestor.

Advisory Opinion 2025-07 (4 Libertarian State Committees) The Commission approved an advisory opinion in response to a joint request from four Libertarian state party committees: the Libertarian Party of Idaho, the Libertarian Party of Maine, Inc., the Libertarian Party of Maryland, and the Libertarian Party of Vermont. The Commission concluded that the four respective committees qualify as state committees of a political party under the Act. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel for the requestors.

Request for Commission Directive 69 Guidance (LRA 1219) The Commission discussed a joint Office of General Counsel (OGC) and Office of Compliance (OC) request for Commission guidance under agency Directive 69 regarding the permissibility of a principal campaign committee’s remediation of impermissible general election contributions in its account after losing the primary election by donating those contributions to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. OGC and OC recommended that the Commission conclude that the Committee’s disbursement of unrefunded general election contributions to a charitable organization was not permissible under the Act. The Commission considered OGC and OC’s recommendation but was unable to approve the proposed recommendation by the required four affirmative votes.

Office of General Counsel Recommendations at the Initial Stage of the Enforcement Process (Pursuant to 52 U.S.C. § 30109(a)) The Commission discussed a proposed agency directive regarding recommendations from OGC at the initial stage of the enforcement process. The proposed directive would establish a 120-day timeframe for OGC to recommend dismissal or further action on a complaint, would require OGC to provide written justification and an estimated completion date in cases where that requirement cannot be met, and would require OGC to provide quarterly status updates to the Commission as part of its regular reports. The Commission considered the proposed agency directive, but the proposal did not receive the required four affirmative votes.

Election of Officer (Chair). Following a nomination by Commissioner Dickerson, the Commission unanimously elected Commissioner Shana M. Broussard to serve as Chair of the Commission for the remainder of 2025, effective July 1. Commissioner James E. “Trey” Trainor, III will continue to serve as Vice Chairman.

Commissioner Allen J. Dickerson Statement Upon the Conclusion of His Term. Commissioner Dickerson announced that he is departing the Commission, effective at the end of today. Commissioner Dickerson made remarks and thanked Commission staff and his Commission colleagues. Vice Chairman Trainor, Commissioner Broussard, and Commissioner Dara Lindenbaum each made remarks and issued statements thanking Commissioner Dickerson for his service on the Commission.