campaign finance
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SemaforAIPAC backs candidates in Democratic primaries
Candidates in several Democratic primaries have faced attacks over ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The criticism now links the group to both the war in Iran and concerns about undisclosed political spending.
winnipegfreepress.comDan J. Sullivan Files to Challenge Incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska Senate Race
A second candidate named Dan J. Sullivan, a former elementary school teacher and bartender, has filed to run against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska's 2026 Senate race. The filing adds a new variable to a contest already featuring former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola.
theweek.comAIPAC Launches Donor Portals to Direct Funds to Congressional Candidates
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has launched anonymous fundraising portals to direct money to congressional candidates while avoiding association with its brand, which has grown toxic in some Democratic primaries.
theyeshivaworld.comTom Steyer Says Corporate Interests Oppose His California Governor Bid
Tom Steyer stated that corporate donors fund establishment candidates in the 2026 California governor race. He described his campaign as focused on working people and climate policy.
nationalobserver.comClean Energy PAC Spent $1.1 Million in One Primary, Shifts Focus to Iowa Race
A political action committee tied to wind and solar interests spent $1.1 million supporting a Republican primary challenger. The group is now directing resources toward another Republican contest in Iowa.
nypost.comCalifornia Governor Candidate Xavier Becerra Addresses Oil Industry Donations
Xavier Becerra, a candidate in the California governor’s race, has received campaign contributions from oil companies. He stated the donations do not influence his policy positions.
Washington ExaminerMichigan Senate Candidate's Former PAC Spent 13 Percent on Direct Candidate Support
Campaign finance records show Southpaw MI PAC raised about $422,806 and spent roughly $56,470 directly on candidates and ballot measures. The remainder went to consultants and services, according to filings reviewed by the Washington Examiner.
themandarin.com.auVictorian Government Proposes $10,000 Political Donation Cap
The Victorian government is negotiating with crossbench MPs on new donation rules after the Coalition declined support. The plan would set a $10,000 annual cap and restore disclosure requirements before the November election.
Le MondeFrench Court to Rule on Sarkozy Appeal November 30
The Paris appeals court ended hearings in the Libyan funding case against former president Nicolas Sarkozy on May 27. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year prison term. The verdict is scheduled for November 30.
abcnews.go.comTexas Democratic Senate candidate says campaign relies on grassroots donors
James Talarico stated his Senate campaign is funded by individual donors rather than corporate PAC contributions. The comment follows record spending in the Texas Republican primary.
Le MondeLawyer Describes Former Interior Minister's Resentment Toward Sarkozy at Appeal Hearing
A lawyer told the Paris Court of Appeal on Tuesday that former interior minister Claude Guéant harbors resentment toward Nicolas Sarkozy. The statement came during proceedings linked to alleged Libyan funding of Sarkozy's 2007 campaign.
Democratic Candidates Trade Accusations Over Stock Holdings in Primaries
Several Democratic primary contests feature attacks on opponents' personal stock trades and wealth. Candidates cite financial disclosures and blind trusts while seeking to strengthen the party's anti-corruption message ahead of midterm elections.
FortuneDemocratic Candidates Face Attacks Over Personal Stock Holdings in Primaries
Several Democratic primary candidates have traded accusations about stock trading and personal wealth while campaigning on anti-corruption themes. The issue has surfaced in races in Texas, Utah, New York, and California.
nypost.comCalifornia Influencers File Complaint Over Undisclosed Payments From Steyer Campaign
Two political influencers filed a complaint with California's Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that Tom Steyer's gubernatorial campaign paid creators without requiring disclosure. The 2023 state law mandates that paid social media posts identify the sponsor, but feder…
New York PostNassau County Executive Addresses Donors at Hamptons Breakfast
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman spoke to more than 80 business leaders and philanthropists at a nonpartisan breakfast in Southampton. He pledged to oppose a proposed tax on luxury second homes and outlined other campaign positions.
New York PostSan Jose Mayor Faces Second Complaint Over Campaign Coordination
A formal complaint filed with California's Fair Political Practices Commission alleges that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and an independent committee used the same polling firm. The filing claims the arrangement may violate state coordination rules and could result in penalties up t…
leftfootforward.orgCrypto Billionaire Christopher Harborne Donated Millions to Reform UK
Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency billionaire, has donated millions of pounds to Reform UK, including a £5 million gift to Nigel Farage in 2024. A Sky News reporter is traveling in southeast Asia to locate Harborne and examine his current activities.
ncbi.nlm.nih.govCalifornia Treasurer Fiona Ma Received Donations From Donors With China Ties
California Treasurer Fiona Ma accepted more than $100,000 from donors with reported ties to the Chinese government and affiliated organizations. A Daily Caller News Foundation investigation examined campaign finance records and public meetings involving Ma and individuals connect…
AIPAC Funds PACs in Illinois and Pennsylvania Primaries
Public records show AIPAC-linked PACs spent millions in recent U.S. House primaries. The spending occurred through multiple intermediary groups whose donors were disclosed after the elections.
Fox NewsTransportation Secretary Duffy Questions Senators on Campaign Donations During Hearing
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy responded to Democratic senators' questions about corporate funding for a road trip by pointing to their own campaign contributions from regulated industries. The exchange occurred during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday.
forbes.comAI Companies Back Super PACs Targeting Congressional Candidates
Anthropic and OpenAI are each supporting super PACs that have spent millions on ads against congressional candidates. The groups have also directed spending at each other. The activity comes ahead of the June 23 primary in New York.
middleeasteye.netPro-Israel Group Congratulates Candidate After Primary Victory
A pro-Israel lobbying organization issued statements after a Republican primary election in Kentucky. The group spent millions in independent expenditures supporting the winning candidate.
washingtonpost.comPro-Israel Groups Spent $9 Million to Defeat Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky Primary
Republican challenger Ed Gallrein defeated seven-term incumbent Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th congressional district primary. Pro-Israel organizations spent more than $9 million in the race that totaled over $32 million.
CoinDeskCrypto Super PAC Fairshake Backs Winners in Southern Primaries
Fairshake spent more than $20 million on political advertising in primaries across Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia. The super PAC supported six candidates who won their respective races on Tuesday.
nypost.comCalifornia Influencers Paid to Promote Candidates on Social Media
Some social media influencers in California receive payment to post favorable content about political candidates. The practice raises questions about disclosure and transparency for viewers.
New York PostTom Steyer Files Complaint Accusing Xavier Becerra of Undisclosed Influencer Payments
California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer filed a complaint Tuesday with the state Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that rival Xavier Becerra violated disclosure rules by paying social media influencers. The filing claims Becerra made payments to at least two crea…
upi.comSteyer Campaign Files Complaint Over Becerra Influencer Disclosures
Tom Steyer’s campaign filed a complaint Tuesday with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission accusing two influencers of failing to disclose payments for pro-Becerra social media posts. The Becerra campaign and one of the named creators denied receiving or making any pay…
nypost.comKentucky Primary Race Draws Millions in Outside Spending
A Kentucky congressional primary has attracted millions of dollars in spending from outside groups. The race involves a sitting representative facing challengers backed by multiple organizations.
Washington ExaminerTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton Trails in Fundraising for Senate Runoff
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Sen. John Cornyn in a May 26 Republican primary runoff. Paxton has received no contributions from Leonard Leo or his affiliated organizations in the first quarter of 2026.
ndtv.comDraftKings, Andreessen Horowitz and Meta Spend Millions on State Election Influence
DraftKings, Andreessen Horowitz and Meta are directing millions of dollars toward state election campaigns. State races have become key venues for regulatory decisions affecting these companies.
Abc NewsKentucky Republican Thomas Massie Says Out-of-State Donors Are Funding Primary Opponent
Rep. Thomas Massie said Sunday that three out-of-state billionaires have contributed millions to his primary opponent. He faces a Trump-endorsed challenger in Tuesday's election.
New York PostCalifornia Gubernatorial Candidate Paid $100,000 to Texas-Based Influencer
Tom Steyer's campaign paid Carlos Eduardo Espina $100,000 for strategic advice and campaign surrogacy during the current election cycle. State election regulators are investigating whether online creators properly disclosed sponsored political content. Steyer is competing in the…
Abc NewsKentucky Republican Representative Faces Primary Challenge
A Republican representative from Kentucky is running in a primary election on Tuesday against a challenger backed by the president. The incumbent has said out-of-state donors are funding opposition to his campaign.
washingtonpost.comPro-Israel Groups Increase Spending in Kentucky House Primary Against Thomas Massie
Pro-Israel organizations have increased campaign spending in the Republican primary for Kentucky's 4th congressional district. The race has become the most expensive House primary in U.S. history.
NewsweekPoll Shows Lindsey Graham at 56% in South Carolina GOP Senate Primary, 23% Undecided
An InsiderAdvantage survey conducted this week gives the Republican senator a wide lead over five challengers in the June 9 primary. More than 60 percent of respondents said President Donald Trump’s endorsement would help secure victory. Forecasters rate the general election cont…
thecanary.coPolitical Campaigns Pay Social Media Influencers With Limited Disclosure
Social media influencers are receiving payments from campaigns and political groups to promote candidates or causes. One progressive influencer with 14.5 million followers endorsed a candidate for California governor after being paid $100,000 by that campaign.
msnbc.comDemocratic National Committee Reports Debt While Candidates Hold Tens of Millions
The Democratic National Committee ended March with $13.9 million in cash and $18.4 million in debt. In contrast, Democratic Senate candidates and the party's congressional campaign committees hold substantial cash reserves with no debt. The DNC chair said the debt resulted from e…
The FederalistDana Williamson Pleads Guilty in Scheme Involving $225,000 From Xavier Becerra’s Dormant Campaign Account
Former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom entered a guilty plea on May 14, 2026, to bank fraud, submitting a false tax return and making a false statement to federal agents. Williamson agreed to pay $725,000 in restitution as part of a deal that drops 20 of 23 charges…
New York PostDana Williamson Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax Charges in California Campaign Funds Case
Dana Williamson, a former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom and strategist tied to Xavier Becerra, entered a guilty plea Thursday in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return and making false statements.
espn.comTodd Boehly and Associates Donated Over $300,000 to Kansas Insurance Commissioner’s Campaign
Todd Boehly and dozens of his associates contributed more than $300,000 to the Kansas insurance commissioner’s gubernatorial campaign. The donations occurred weeks before the commissioner’s office helped one of Boehly’s companies secure a delay in new capital rules. The sequence…
deadline.comNew York City Public Advocate Candidate Angela Aquino Charged With Wire Fraud
Federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint in Brooklyn charging 2025 public advocate candidate Angela Aquino with wire fraud for allegedly defrauding New York City’s campaign finance system to obtain public matching funds. The charges trigger an arraignment this afternoon…
lamag.comCalifornia Consultant Dana Williamson Pleads Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy
Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, and making false statements to a federal agent. The plea triggers mandatory sentencing proceedings and closes one case in the Justice…
SemaforAI Plays Larger Role in 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections
Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has become the largest donor in the 2026 midterm elections, backing candidates who support artificial intelligence development. A Democratic congressional primary in New York City has drawn spending from interests on both sides of AI regul…
nbcnews.comClosing Arguments Delivered in Nicolas Sarkozy Appeal Trial Over Alleged 2007 Libyan Campaign Funding
Almost two months after the appeal trial opened, prosecutors began delivering closing arguments in the case alleging Libyan funding of Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign. The former French president, 71, has denied all allegations against him. France 24 reported on the…
alternet.orgVeterans Group Spends Over $8 Million to Back Candidate in Iowa Senate Primary
A political organization dedicated to electing Democratic veterans has spent more than $8 million on advertising to support state Rep. Joshua Turek in Iowa's Democratic Senate primary. The spending has created divisions in the primary between Turek, who is not a veteran, and a st…
Defense NewsDefense Industry Donates Nearly $5 Million to Congress This Year
A new report shows the defense sector contributed almost $5 million to members of Congress through political action committees and individual donations. The donations, which include contributions to both Republicans and Democrats on key defense committees, represent a small share…
washingtonpost.comSuper PAC With Republican Ties Intervenes in Democratic Primaries
A newly formed super PAC with ties to Republicans has begun spending in Democratic primary races. In one case the group is supporting a sex therapist running for office in Texas who has faced accusations of antisemitism. The involvement marks an unusual effort by one party to inf…
abcnews.go.comHawaii Legislature Passes Bill Redefining Corporations to Restrict Election Spending, Sent to Governor
Hawaii lawmakers delivered legislation Friday that would redefine corporations to bar election spending, sending it to Gov. Josh Green for a decision by June 30. A parallel signature drive in Montana, cleared by that state's Supreme Court in April, aims to place a similar measure…
theweek.comHouse Ethics Committee Releases Update on Investigation of Rep. Cory Mills
A House Ethics investigative subcommittee has issued more than 20 subpoenas and contacted dozens of witnesses as it examines allegations of sexual misconduct, dating violence, campaign finance violations and improper financial dealings against a Florida GOP congressman.
theweek.comHouse Ethics Committee Releases Update on Investigation of Rep. Cory Mills
The panel issued an update Monday detailing more than 20 subpoenas, thousands of documents collected and dozens of witnesses contacted since launching its probe in November 2025. Rep. Cory Mills faces allegations including campaign finance violations, sexual misconduct, dating vi…
The IndependentMichigan Democratic Senate Primary Focuses on Dark Money and Israel Policy
Three candidates are competing in Michigan's Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat that could help determine control of the chamber. The race has centered on dark money spending linked to pro-Israel groups and corporate political action committees. Rep. Haley Stevens, state S…
thehindu.comNew York House Republican Accused of Self-Dealing With Former Consulting Firm
Entities connected to the congressman paid more than $720,000 to a political consulting firm he founded and later sold his stake in. The arrangement, first reported by Politico, has prompted a complaint to the Federal Election Commission from a pro-Democrat group. Watchdog organi…
Los Angeles TimesHarris 2024 Donors Show Limited Support for Potential 2028 Bid
Many top donors to Kamala Harris's 2024 campaign have indicated they do not plan to back her if she runs for president in 2028. The Los Angeles Times contacted more than two dozen major contributors to the main pro-Harris super PAC, with several stating they would support other c…
fortune.comTech Leaders Back San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan in California Governor’s Race
Tech investors and executives have contributed millions to the campaign of the San Jose mayor, a 43-year-old former tech executive, positioning him as a moderate Democrat focused on homelessness, crime and business-friendly policies. The mayor has raised more campaign funds in th…
Financial TimesGerman Court Orders AfD to Repay €2.35 Million in Illegal Donation
A Berlin court ruled that Alternative for Germany must repay a record €2.35 million donation accepted illegally before last year’s election. The decision marks a legal defeat for the far-right party over campaign finance violations. Separately, France’s far-right leaders have met…
theyeshivaworld.comCampaign Staffers Place Bets on Prediction Markets Using Internal Polling Data
Campaign staffers are turning private polling data into personal paydays by betting on election prediction markets, according to an NPR report published May 7, 2026. Staffers described the markets as a "Wild West" for those with inside information. The report appeared on Morning…
thesouthafrican.comVictims' Lawyers Present Closing Arguments at Sarkozy Appeal Trial Over Alleged Libyan Campaign Funding
Lawyers for families of 1989 UTA Flight 772 bombing victims delivered closing arguments on May 5, 2026, at the Paris appeal trial concerning alleged Libyan funding of Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign. Vincent Ollivier described the proceedings as a 'theater of appeara…
ksl.comOverlapping Payments Show Rep. Mike Lawler’s History as Political Operative
A review of federal campaign records shows overlapping payments to Rep. Mike Lawler and companies he controlled while he worked as a political consultant. The filings document payments from multiple campaigns and committees during periods when Lawler both received compensation an…
calgaryherald.comFar-Left Candidates Advance in Democratic Senate Primaries in Maine and Michigan
Graham Platner defeated Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic Senate primary and addressed state party delegates over the weekend. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed has risen in polls in the Senate primary with a focus on criticism of Israel. The Free Press reported that small-dolla…
Fox NewsIndependent Nebraska Senate Candidate Receives Funds From Democratic Donors
Independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn has received campaign contributions from ActBlue and political action committees affiliated with Democratic officials. Osborn has pledged not to caucus with either major party if elected to the U.S. Senate in Nebraska. Campaign finance reco…