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Weekly Digests are published every Friday and summarize the week's publicly disclosed activity. Press releases are published as news happens.
FEC Record articles inform candidates and committees about FEC developments and are published as news happens. Access Record articles from 1975 through 2004 on the Record archive page. Tips for Treasurers are published once a week.
Mid-Year reporting reminder
Quarterly-filing political action committees and party committees have a Mid-Year Report due July 31, covering activity through June 30. During the nonelection year, these committees file only twice (a Mid-Year …
Read moreAO 2021-06: State party chaired by federal officeholder may raise nonfederal funds
The Democratic Party of Illinois may raise nonfederal funds while Representative Robin Kelly chairs its governing committee, as long as the party’s nonfederal account is administered by a special committee …
Read moreCommission’s decision to exercise prosecutorial discretion immune from review in CREW v. FEC (D.C. Cir. 19-5161)
On April 9, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (the Court) affirmed the district court’s decision granting summary judgment in a suit filed …
Read moreOhio special election reporting: 11th district (2021)
Ohio has scheduled special elections to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat in the 11th Congressional District vacated by Representative Marcia L. Fudge. The Special Primary Election will be …
Read moreCourt denies preliminary injunction in challenge to electioneering communications requirements (D.D.C. 19-1021)
On May 13, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied a motion by Leigh Brown and Leigh Brown & Associates (plaintiffs) for a preliminary injunction to …
Read moreGiffords sues Commission alleging failure to act in a timely manner (D.D.C. 2019) 1:19-cv-01192
On April 24, 2019, Giffords, a 501(c)(4) organization founded and led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, filed suit in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia to …
Read moreSwitching filing frequency?
Party committees that do not conduct reportable federal election activity and all PACs have the option to file reports on a "monthly" or "quarterly" filing schedule. Some committees prefer to …
Read moreAppeals court affirms FEC’s exercise of prosecutorial discretion (CREW, et al. v. FEC (17-5049))
On June 15, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded that the Commission’s dismissal of an administrative complaint by Citizens for Responsibility and …
Read moreCourt dismisses Commission’s case against one defendant in FEC v. Jeremy Johnson and John Swallow (D. Utah 2:15-cv-00439-DB)
On April 6, 2018, the United States District Court for the District of Utah (the court) dismissed the Commission’s case against John Swallow, one of two defendants in FEC v. …
Read moreAO 2017-12: Nonprofit must include disclaimers on its Facebook ads
Take Back Action Fund (TBAF), a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organization, must include disclaimers on its paid Facebook image and video advertising. While the Commission unanimously agreed to that conclusion, Commissioners relied …
Read morePreparing for the next election (2018)
This article highlights some basic rules for candidates and campaign committees as they prepare for the 2018 elections.
Candidate definition
Under federal law, an individual becomes a “candidate” when he …
Read moreCampaign debt
After an election, some House and Senate campaigns have outstanding debts, including money owed to campaign vendors. Campaigns must report debts and obligations continuously until repaid.
Debt reporting thresholds
- A …
AO 2016-25: Federal officeholder may spend nonfederal funds for certain winding down expenses of previous nonfederal campaign
Vice President Mike Pence’s previous campaign committee for Indiana governor may spend its remaining nonfederal funds for several types of expenses related to winding down its state campaign activities and …
Read moreAO 2016-15: Joint fundraising committee may hold contributions in escrow pending state party status determinations
A joint fundraising committee may solicit, accept, and hold in escrow certain contributions designated for participating committees, pending their recognition as state party committees. If the Commission approves state party …
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