The sudden resignation marks a precipitous fall for Atkinson, the state’s second African-American and first openly gay Senate majority leader. A legislative mainstay, Atkinson was first elected to the state Assembly in 2002 and joined the Senate after the 2012 election.Source: Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson to resign amid federal charges of misappropriating campaign funds...

Two political action committees founded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s top aide funneled over $1 million in political donations into two of his own private companies, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Election Committee on Monday.Source: AOC’s chief of staff ran $1M slush fund by diverting campaign cash to his own companies...

In a time of deafening media noise, momentous revelations slip through unnoticed, none more explosive than a recent report under the venerable Atlantic Council's auspices. The subject concerns foreign dark money insidiously influencing our elections. And it's a rock-hard stick of dynamite.Source: The Latest Bombshell: How Dark Money From Hostile States Has Entered Our Elections...

To subscribe to the monthly C&E email newsletter and event announcements click here. As lawmakers across the country move to regulate online advertising at the state level, strategists are increasingly concerned about the impact such laws will have on digital advertising campaigns.Source: As States Move to Regulate Digital Ads, Consultants Warn of Unintended Consequences...

Senator Elizabeth Warren on Monday escalated her presidential campaign’s battle against big money in politics, announcing that her bid for the Democratic nomination will forgo traditional fund-raising methods meant to cultivate a candidate’s relationships with the wealthy.Source: Elizabeth Warren to Forgo Receptions and Fund-Raisers With Big Donors...