This case presents an opportunity to reassert the important role of federal judges in holding the FEC accountable to its mandate when the commissioners are evenly divided on an enforcement question.

Montanans for Community Development (“MCD”) v. Mangan is a challenge to Montana’s disclosure laws, which serve to protect voters’ ability to know who is behind the election advertising they see, read, or hear. The laws at issue require political groups that spend money to influence Montana voters to...

Deon v. Barasch is a challenge to a Pennsylvania law that prohibits campaign contributions by key individuals involved in the state gaming industry. 

On September 6, 2011, plaintiffs filed a lawsuit challenging multiple provisions of Montana’s campaign finance law, including state limits on contributions from individuals, political committees and state political parties to candidates...

Elster v. City of Seattle is a First Amendment challenge to Seattle’s new public campaign financing program. Plaintiffs in the case, two Seattle property owners, aim to have the law struck down as unconstitutional.

Federal campaign laws limit the amount of money individuals can contribute to national political party committees within a certain year. The LNC challenged the limits on contributions to political parties. CLC's friend-of-the-court brief supports the constitutionality of the overall federal...

The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, and a number of other newspaper organizations are suing the state of Maryland to avoid complying with the state’s political ad transparency law. The law includes measures that allow the public to easily obtain information about groups and individuals seeking to...

Americans for Prosperity Foundation has failed to comply with California state law by providing its list of donors with the AG's office. They are challenging the law. CLC filed a brief in favor of the law, which seeks to protect taxpayers against fraud.

This case seeks to compel ICE to disclose operating agreements that may show a private prison company has a direct relationship with a federal contract. 

Doe v. FEC is a case about a mystery donor's attempt to maintain secrecy around a $1.7 million donation to a super PAC whose spending was meant to influence the 2012 election. 

A group called Delaware Strong Families challenged the Delaware Elections Disclosure Act, a law that sought to improve transparency of outside spending in state elections. CLC, with attorneys from WilmerHale, represented Delaware's attorney general and commission of elections in the successful...

Zimmerman v. City of Austin is a First Amendment challenge to Austin’s municipal campaign finance law, including its contribution limits for city council candidates. CLC is arguing that Austin’s contribution limits should be upheld.

A state party challenge to the law preventing pay-to-play practices in municipal security services.

The King Street Patriots challenged the constitutionality of numerous provisions of Texas campaign finance law, including the state restriction on corporate contributions, and the disclosure and organizational requirements applicable to political committees. The state district court rejected KSP’s...

In December 2016, an organization filed suit in Sacramento Superior Court challenging S.B. 1107, legislation which amended California’s Political Reform Act to empower the state and local governments to establish citizen-funded elections. 

The federal campaign laws have long placed limits on what individuals and certain entities can give to political parties in connection with federal elections. The Republican Party of Louisiana is asking a three-judge federal district court in D.C. to undo the “soft money” limits applicable to state...