FEC approves three advisory opinions

WASHINGTON – At its open meeting today, the Federal Election Commission approved three advisory opinions and held over discussion of an advisory opinion request.

Advisory Opinion Request 2022-12 (Ready for Ron) The Commission held over discussion of Advisory Opinion Request 2022-12. The requestor, a hybrid, nonconnected political committee that proposes to ask individuals to sign a petition encouraging Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, asks whether it may provide this petition and signatory contact information to Governor DeSantis.

Advisory Opinion 2022-13 (Dr. Alan Gross and Northern Leadership PAC) The Commission approved Advisory Opinion 2022-13 in response to a request from Gross and the Northern Leadership PAC (the Committee). The Commission concluded that the Committee may choose to convert either to an authorized committee of Gross’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives or, alternatively, its previous designation as the principal campaign committee of Gross’s 2020 campaign for the U.S. Senate. The Commission received one comment on the draft advisory opinion. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel for the requestor.

Advisory Opinion 2022-14 (Google LLC ) The Commission approved Advisory Opinion 2022-14 in response to a request from Google LLC. The Commission concluded that a pilot program to test new Gmail design features at no cost on a nonpartisan basis to authorized candidate committees, political party committees, and leadership PACs would be permissible under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), and Commission regulations and would not result in the making of a prohibited in-kind contribution. The Commission received over 2,500 comments on the request and two drafts. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel for the requestor.

Advisory Opinion 2022-18 (Bridget Fleming for Congress, Jackie Gordon for Congress, Conole for Congress, and Max Rose for Congress) (House Committees) The Commission approved Advisory Opinion 2022-18 in response to a request from four House campaign Committees. The Commission concluded that the Committees may seek to have contributions that were originally designated for New York’s November 2022 general election redesignated for New York’s August 23, 2022, primary election even if they are received more than 60 days after receipt in light of the Commission’s conclusion in Advisory Opinion 2022-08 (National Republican Congressional Committee) (NRCC) that a separate contribution limit applies to the August 23, 2022, primary. During the discussion, the Commission heard from counsel for the requestor.