Shana Broussard, Sean Cooksey, Allen Dickerson sworn in as Commissioners

WASHINGTON—Shana M. Broussard, Sean J. Cooksey and Allen Dickerson have been sworn in as members of the Federal Election Commission, returning a quorum to the agency charged with administering and enforcing federal campaign finance law. The Commission has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and Vice Presidency.

The three new Commissioners were nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 2020. Commissioner Cooksey, whose term will end on April 30, 2021, fills the vacancy in the seat previously occupied by Lee E. Goodman. Commissioner Broussard, appointed to a term ending April 30, 2023, fills the vacancy in the seat previously occupied by Ann M. Ravel. Commissioner Dickerson was appointed to a term ending April 30, 2025, and fills the vacancy in the seat previously occupied by Caroline C. Hunter.

“I am gratified that the Commission is finally back at full strength so that we can tackle the large backlog of enforcement cases and other vital work,” said Chair James “Trey” Trainor III. “I look forward to working with my outstanding new colleagues, each of whom brings valuable experience and perspectives to our common mission of administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law in a just and fair manner.”

Commissioner Broussard of Louisiana joined the Commission in 2008 as an attorney in the Enforcement Division of the Office of General Counsel. In 2015, she was assigned on detail as Counsel for Commissioner Steven T. Walther, advising the Commissioner during his tenure as Chair in 2017 and continuing in that role until her own appointment as Commissioner. Commissioner Broussard previously was an Attorney Advisor at the Internal Revenue Service, Office of Professional Responsibility, and Deputy Disciplinary Counsel at the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board. She also worked as a New Orleans Assistant District Attorney, and was appointed in that role to the Violent Offenders Strike Force. A proud alumna of two historically black universities (HBCUs), Commissioner Broussard earned her B.A. from Dillard University and her J.D. cum laude from Southern University Law Center. She received the NAACP 2015 Juneteenth Celebration Trailblazer Award for Terrebonne Parish in recognition of her achievement as the first African American attorney from Gibson, LA.

Commissioner Cooksey served most recently as General Counsel to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, advising him on issues including constitutional law, judicial nominations, election law, federal criminal law, and ethics compliance. He previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. Prior to his Senate service, Commissioner Cooksey worked as an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington, D.C., where his practice focused on appeals and constitutional law. He also served as a law clerk for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Commissioner Cooksey received his B.A., summa cum laude, from Truman State University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he graduated with High Honors and Order of the Coif.

Commissioner Dickerson served as Legal Director of the Institute for Free Speech from 2011 to 2020. At IFS, he led a nationwide First Amendment litigation practice and regularly appeared before legislative bodies and regulatory agencies. Previously, he was an Associate with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and advised the Republican Governors Association. He also serves as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army Reserve. Commissioner Dickerson is a graduate of Yale College and New York University School of Law.