The partial government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, is affecting the Federal Election Commission’s ability to enforce campaign finance laws and investigate possible infractions, Democrats on the Senate Rules Committee wrote to the FEC on Wednesday.Source: Democrats seek FEC assurance on campaign finance oversight during shutdown...

To get the districts they wanted, Democrats organized groups that said they represented communities, but really represented the party. This spring, a group of California Democrats gathered at a modern, airy office building just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.Source: How Democrats Fooled California’s Redistricting Commission...

The top Democrat on the House Administration Committee is closely monitoring the ongoing investigation in North Carolina's contested 9th Congressional District, advising the state elections board to “preserve and protect” all of the evidence it has gathered. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.Source: House Administration Democrats keeping close eye on North Carolina election...

In the unlikely event that one of Utah’s U.S. Senators were to not finish their term in office, the party that they belong to gets to nominate three possible replacements, with the final choice up to the governor. One Utah lawmaker says the legislature should play a role in picking a replacement.Source: Lawmaker says Legislature, not political parties, should pick...

The Court’s 277-page opinion is here. Given the court’s findings of no unconstitutional purpose on the part of Secretary Ross, it is not clear to me if this moots issues in the portion of this case being argued next month at the Supreme Court.Source: Breaking : Federal District Court Holds that Adding Census Question to Citizenship Violates Administrative Procedure Act,...

Today, Common Cause released a new report on the many ways presidential candidates bend and break campaign finance laws as they barnstorm early primary states, fundraise, evade contributions limits, and build their campaign teams while denying they are running for office.Source: New “Testing the Waters” Report Examines How Presidential Candidates Ignore Campaign Finance Laws & Regulators Let Them...

Over the past year, many pundits and media outlets have speculated about the role of money in the 2018 midterm elections. Much of that commentary predicted an avalanche of spending with disastrous effects. But did the rhetoric match the results?Source: Money Doesn’t Buy Elections, “Dark Money” Keeps Falling, and Other Lessons from the 2018 Midterms...