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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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February 20, 2025
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April 11, 2025
March 19, 2025
Key Initatives
Recent Campaign Finance Cases and Actions
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) filed suit to challenge longstanding limits on how much political parties can spend in “coordination” with federal candidates. CLC has joined the case as an amicus curiae to help defend the coordinated spending limits, arguing the lawsuit is foreclosed by a 2001 decision by the Supreme Court to uphold these federal limits.
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In 2023, Minnesota enacted a law prohibiting corporations with foreign owners from spending to influence Minnesota state elections. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce sued to overturn the law on First Amendment and federal preemption grounds, and CLC has joined the case as an amicus curiae to help defend the law.
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Campaign Legal Center is participating in the defense of Maine Question 2, known as the “Prohibit Foreign Spending in Elections Initiative,” in four lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the initiative. CLC represents Protect Maine Elections, the ballot measure committee that was founded to help draft and enact Question 2.
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Stories
Voters Demanding the Right To Know
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
