FEC to consider clarifying what joint fundraising committees can pay for in political ads

Source: Roll Call

Posted October 9, 2024 at 2:40pm


The Federal Election Commission on Thursday will consider whether joint fundraising committees can fully finance campaign-style television advertisements, which Democrats argue could reshape funding for political advertising.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, along with Montana Sen. Jon Tester’s reelection campaign and Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego’s Senate campaign, asked the FEC earlier this month to “issue clear guidance on the utilization of joint fundraising committees to air campaign style television ads because we believe the Republican activity is illegal,” a DSCC aide said. Democrats argue that Republicans are exploiting a loophole by allowing TV ads that appear to advocate for a candidate or attack their opponent while also including a brief fundraising solicitation.

“If the Commission takes this position, there is nothing to stop federal candidates from fully offloading their entire advertising budget to national party committees and political action committees,” lawyers for the DSCC, Montanans for Tester and Gallego for Arizona wrote in comments last week. Joint fundraising committees for Senate candidates in Maryland, Arizona, Montana and Nebraska have recently run ads attacking Democratic candidates and making a fundraising appeal.

The six-person commission, which is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, is set to consider two drafts on Thursday that would clarify whether a joint fundraising committee could pay for an entire ad, or simply the part of it asking for a donation.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2024/10/09/fec-to-consider-clarifying-what-joint-fundraising-committees-can-pay-for-in-political-ads/