If the upcoming midterm elections result in a Democratic majority in the House next year, companies, organizations, and individuals can expect a new wave of congressional investigations, hearings, and oversight, with a familiar focus on the Trump administration and an emphasis on a variety of private sector targets. The Democratic…

Continue Reading Democratic Investigations Agenda is Coming Into Focus

More than one billion dollars were spent in 2024 elections supporting or opposing state and local ballot measures. With high-profile and contentious issues expected to be on the ballot, such as congressional redistricting, AI regulation, minimum wage increases, and more, that number promises to be even larger in 2026. As…

Continue Reading Covington’s Guide to Ballot Measures

Shortly before adjourning for 2025, the Senate passed two bills to broaden disclosure and registration requirements related to the regulation of foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”): the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act (S. 856 / H.R. 1883)…

Continue Reading Senate Advances Bills To Broaden Foreign Agent Disclosures in Lobbying Reports

Among a wave of noteworthy results in this fall’s off-year elections, Zohran Mamdani’s selection as the next Mayor of New York City was perhaps the most closely watched and widely discussed. Though much of that commentary has focused on the new Mayor himself, the New York City Council appears poised…

Continue Reading New York City Council Poised to Reinvigorate Investigative Authorities and Issue Subpoenas to the Private Sector

The 2025 proxy season saw significant developments with respect to proposals calling on companies to disclose information about their political contribution activity and lobbying activity, including an increase in support for political contribution proposals. That stronger support, particularly against the backdrop of reduced support for socially-oriented shareholder proposals, may lead…

Continue Reading Is a Political Law Shareholder Proposal Under Your Tree? Strategies for Responding in the New Year

Since the landmark Citizens United decision in 2010, super PACs have become a fixture of U.S. political campaigns. But despite the initial anticipated boom in corporate influence in elections, most super PAC funding to date has come from wealthy individuals, closely-held corporations, and nonprofits, not from large for-profit corporations.

However…

Continue Reading Corporate and Industry “Mega PACs”: The Next Frontier for Super PACs

In the 2024 election cycle, super PACs spent a reported $2.7 billion at the federal level, up from roughly $1.4 billion in 2022. And in 2025, super PACs poured tens of millions into state and local races, including the New Jersey gubernatorial race and the New York City mayoral…

Continue Reading Forming and Operating Super PACs: A Practical Guide for Political Consultants in 2026
… Continue Reading Practical Advice for Nonprofits and Donors After the Presidential Memorandum on “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence” and Reported IRS Enforcement Changes

It may begin with an unusual media inquiry or a sudden spike in interest on social media. Just as often, it starts with a non-public request for documents or other evidence. Your boss or your staff have been accused of wrongdoing, and it falls to you to lead the response.…

Continue Reading Handling Investigations of Members of Congress and Congressional Staff: A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff

Following an announcement in September that the White House intends to deploy the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) to investigate persons with foreign ties that “foment political violence,” the FARA Unit of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) quietly (and maybe inadvertently) published and then unpublished 17 new advisory opinions regarding…

Continue Reading DOJ Posts (then Takes Down) Seventeen New Advisory Opinions Regarding the Foreign Agents Registration Act