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Issues
Campaign Finance
Voters have a right to know which wealthy special interests are spending big money to secretly influence our vote and our government to rig the political system in their favor.
CLC advocates for passing and enforcing strong campaign finance reforms that help guarantee a democracy responsive to the people.
These reform solutions include ensuring transparency in both the funding of and spending by political campaigns, placing reasonable limits on that funding and encouraging states and localities to adopt public financing of elections. CLC helps enact such policies at the state, local and federal levels, and works to ensure that the Federal Election Commission enforces current campaign finance laws. CLC also defends laws that ensure voters’ right to know who is spending to influence their vote and our government.
The Latest on Campaign Finance
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Key Initatives
On the Docket for Campaign Finance
Upholding Transparency in State Elections (Americans for Prosperity v. Albence)
Defending Disclosure Laws in South Dakota (Students for Life Action v. Jackley)
Challenging FCC Guidance Enabling Discounted Ad Rates for Super PACs (Brown et al. v. FCC et al.)
Fighting Dark Money by Defending the Johnson Amendment (National Religious Broadcasters, et al. v. IRS, et al.)
Defending Limits on Coordinated Spending by Political Parties (NRSC, et al. v. FEC)
Spotlighting the Trump Administration’s Corrupt Transactions
Recent Campaign Finance Cases and Actions
Advocacy organization Students for Life Action filed a First Amendment challenge to South Dakota’s on-advertisement donor disclaimer law. Campaign Legal Center has joined the case as an amicus curiae to defend the law against the latest appeal, filing a brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in support of the law’s constitutionality.
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Status
Active
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and its affiliated 501(c)3 group filed suit to challenge the Delaware Elections Disclosure Act, a law that sought to improve transparency of outside spending in state elections. CLC helped successfully defend the law in 2014 and is doing so again as counsel to the Delaware Attorney General.
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Status
Active
Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed suit to challenge the OMB’s failure to disclose how governmental agencies are spending appropriated funds. Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed an amicus brief defending standing for groups like CREW and CLC to hold the government accountable through the courts.
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Status
Active
Explore all content related to our campaign finance work
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Mar 14
How Democracy Vouchers Make Elections More Inclusive: A Conversation With Jen Heerwig and Brian McCabe
On Friday, March 14, at 2 p.m. EST, Campaign Legal Center’s Aaron McKean was joined by authors Jen Heerwig and Brian McCabe to discuss their book, “Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.” Heerwig and McCabe explored the success and impact of Seattle’s public financing model and how placing political money directly in the hands of voters through vouchers can level the campaign finance playing field, and empower more Americans to make their voices heard.
Friday, March 14th, 2025
02:00 pm - 03:00 pm ET • Virtual
Jan 16
15 Years of Citizens United: How Big Money Dominated the 2024 Election
On Thursday, January 16 at 11 a.m. EST, with the 15th anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC approaching, Campaign Legal Center held a conversation with campaign finance experts and elected officials on how that U.S. Supreme Court decision dominated the 2024 election.
Thursday, January 16th, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET • Virtual
Jul 18
From Dysfunctional To Disastrous: The Concerning Direction the FEC Is Heading
On Thursday, July 18, at 1 pm EST, Campaign Legal Center, in conversation with key reporters and former Federal Election Commission actors, explored the impact of the FEC taking steps backward in the fight to regulate political spending.
Thursday, July 18th, 2024
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm ET • Virtual
Apr 25
Removing Financial Barriers to Running for Office
CLC hosted a discussion with experts and former candidates about these innovations — those that have already been implemented and others that have been proposed — and discussed what else can be done to break down financial barriers to running for office and make holding political office an obtainable goal for all Americans.
Thursday, April 25th, 2024
11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET • Virtual
Feb 02
Strengthening Democracy in Local Government Through Public Financing
Campaign Legal Center hosted a conversation with both activists and leaders who have helped to implement public financing programs as well as political candidates who have benefited from them.
Friday, February 2nd, 2024
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm ET • Virtual
Nov 02
Artificial Intelligence and Potential Threats to US Elections
If left unchecked, the use of artificial intelligence to deceive voters could make it more difficult, or even impossible, for voters to evaluate the election ads that they see and hear.
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
03:00 pm - 04:00 pm ET • Virtual
Jul 18
Soft Money's Increased Role in the 2024 Election
Despite federal laws directly prohibiting soft money, candidates continue to look for way to inject massive amounts of soft money into their campaigns, which opens the floodgates for outside spending.
Tuesday, July 18th, 2023
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm ET • Virtual
