An election year brings ample opportunities for corporations to participate in the political process, and the current political environment can create enormous pressures to do so. But with these opportunities and pressures come legal risks and compliance burdens. Given the differing and complex rules across jurisdictions, companies should be aware
Continue Reading The 6 Top Compliance Mistakes by Corporations in an Election Yearcampaign finance
Don’t Forget Your California Major Donor Reports!
By Andrew Garrahan & Addie Zinsner on
Posted in Campaign Finance, State Law
With redistricting, the “billionaire tax” and other ballot measures, and heated gubernatorial and other races, contributors are giving huge amounts of money this year in California state and local elections. California has a complex campaign finance system, and it can be easy to miss some of the requirements. Key among…
Continue Reading Don’t Forget Your California Major Donor Reports!Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2026 Edition)
Posted in Political Law
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2026.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of…
Continue Reading Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2026 Edition)Covington’s Guide to Ballot Measures
By Robert Kelner, Derek Lawlor, Andrew Garrahan & Lauren Cox on
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 MeasuresCorporate and Industry “Mega PACs”: The Next Frontier for Super PACs
By Derek Lawlor, Andrew Garrahan & Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Campaign Finance
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 PACsForming and Operating Super PACs: A Practical Guide for Political Consultants in 2026
By Derek Lawlor, Andrew Garrahan & Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Campaign Finance
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 2026Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)
Posted in Political Law
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2025.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of…
Continue Reading Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)Though Unsuccessful, Challenge to Trump Executive Order Yields Potentially Noteworthy Representations Regarding FEC Independence
By Perrin Cooke on
Posted in Campaign Finance
As we highlighted in a prior post, in February, President Trump signed an executive order that expanded the President’s authority over independent agencies within the executive branch that could have important effects on future rulemakings and advisory opinions from the Federal Election Commission (FEC or “Commission”). In particular, we…
Continue Reading Though Unsuccessful, Challenge to Trump Executive Order Yields Potentially Noteworthy Representations Regarding FEC IndependenceFEC Raises Contribution Limits for 2025-2026
By Derek Lawlor & Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Campaign Finance
The Federal Election Commission has announced contribution limits for 2025-2026. The new “per election” limits are effective for the 2025-2026 election cycle (November 6, 2024 – November 3, 2026), and the calendar year limits are effective January 1, 2025.
The FEC increased the amount an individual can contribute to a…
New House Ethics Committee Memorandum Clarifies Rules on Personal Use of Covered Campaign Funds
By Robert Lenhard, Matthew Shapanka & Stephanie King on
Posted in Campaign Finance, Government Ethics
The House Ethics Committee concluded 2024 by releasing a memorandum updating its guidance for Members’ personal use of political campaign funds (“updated guidance”). While the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”) and Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) regulations prohibit the personal use of campaign funds, House Rule 26.6(b) imposes additional restrictions on…
Continue Reading New House Ethics Committee Memorandum Clarifies Rules on Personal Use of Covered Campaign Funds