Michigan voters are expected to decide this November whether to adopt a far-reaching new pay-to-play law that would restrict political contributions by regulated electric and gas utilities, certain state and local government contractors and companies seeking government contracts, and many
Political Law Briefing
Developments in Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics Laws
Political Law Briefing, published by Venable LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory issues related to political law and campaign finance. The blog covers topics such as federal and state campaign contribution limits, Federal Election Commission regulations, political advocacy and online communications, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) compliance, pay-to-play laws, and political giving strategies for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. It addresses the intersection of election law, lobbying, public affairs, and compliance risks for political actors, nonprofits, and contractors involved in government-related political activities. The blog provides updates on enforcement trends, legislative changes, and practical guidance for navigating complex political law requirements.
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Inflation Drives Federal Campaign Contribution Limits Higher
By Justin Rusk & Jacob Blevins
Today, the Federal Election Commission announced updated contribution limits for the 2025-2026 election cycle:
Key Changes:
- Individuals may now donate $3,500 per election to federal candidates—a more than 6% increase from the 2024 election. The primary and general elections are
…
FEC to Reconsider Regulation of Free Online Political Advocacy
Since the early days of the internet, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has kept its hands off of unpaid online political expression. Though federal campaign finance law generally treats paid online communications as something of value subject to contribution limits…
FARA and the Upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, DC—A Potential Minefield for Lobbyists, Public Affairs Firms, and Nonprofits
This week, world leaders from 32 countries are descending on Washington, DC for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) 75th anniversary summit. Whenever world leaders gather in one place, there will be many add-on meetings outside of the formal event…
Political Giving: A Primer for High-Net-Worth Individuals and Family Offices
For many years, supporters of a candidate or a cause simply wrote a check and asked friends and colleagues to do the same. But the opportunities to influence elections and public policy have evolved significantly, allowing today’s high-net-worth individuals and…
Changes to Maryland Pay-to-Play Law Will Expand Reporting Obligations, Boost Public Scrutiny of State Public Contractors
Starting this July, Maryland’s “pay-to-play” law, which requires public contractors to file campaign contribution disclosure reports with the State Board of Elections, will require for the first time that local government contractors disclose their beneficial owners while streamlining such reporting…
A Guide to Supporting the 2024 Presidential Nominating Conventions: From Hosting Events to Writing a Check
As summer draws near, the tempo of the planning and fundraising for the DNC and RNC national party presidential nominating conventions is increasing. After the challenges and disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, both parties are eager for a…
FEC Allows Nonfederal Committee to Coordinate Paid Canvassing Efforts with Federal Candidates
The Federal Election Commission has issued an advisory opinion making it much easier for federal candidates to offload their paid canvassing programs onto state PACs, nonprofits, and super PACs. While the campaign will need to pay for access to data…
Synthetic Content, Real Regulations: Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Political Advertising
As campaigns explore new ways to harness artificial intelligence, regulators are rushing to keep pace ahead of the 2024 elections. The explosion in generative AI has put pressure on lawmakers and advertising platforms alike to stay ahead of deepfakes, voice…
Citing Upcoming Elections, FCC Extends TCPA to Cover AI-Generated Content
Is a phone call that uses artificial intelligence to imitate a real person “an artificial or prerecorded voice,” subject to the restrictions of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act? The Federal Communications Commission unanimously answered yes in a recent declaratory ruling,…