FanDuel and DraftKings shift focus to D.C. amid federal efforts to legislate sports betting
From OpenSecrets: FanDuel and DraftKings, two popular online sports betting apps, have significantly increased their federal lobbying and campaign spending, as Congress starts to consider regulations on the online gambling industry. Both companies have spent millions of dollars supporting both Republicans and Democrats. DraftKings has spent more than $5.4 million since 2024, splitting contributions between donations to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and its Super PAC Win For America. FanDuel has spent more than $3.5 million, including giving $500,000 each to the top Democratic and Republican House and Senate PACs.
Democrats deny Bruce Blakeman access to public campaign funds
From POLITICO: Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor of New York as a Republican, was denied $7 million in matching campaign funds by the state Campaign Finance Board. The Board voted 4-3 to deny the funds, with all 4 Democratic members voting to deny and all 3 Republicans voting to not do so. The funds were denied because Blakeman’s running mate for Lieutenant Governor did not fill out a form to register for the program, although the form for doing so did not exist at the time.
Connecticut election officials say some lobbyists can donate despite foreign contribution ban
From CT Insider: The Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission ruled that lobbyists working for foreign-owned businesses can make personal political contributions in the state, so long as there isn’t evidence that their donations are being made at the “order, request, direction or control of the foreign parent corporation.” Federal law bars foreign nationals from making political contributions or independent expenditures in connection with candidate elections, and CT state law extends that prohibition to ballot referenda, which would otherwise be permitted by federal law due to a loophole.
Wealthy Investors Are Targeting Foes of Clean Energy, and They Want Revenge
From The New York Times: After President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated most federal subsidies for clean energy and electric vehicles, wealthy supporters of clean energy are spending large amounts of money attacking members of Congress who supported the bill. Investors, including the billionaire co-founder of cryptocurrency platform Ripple, spent $650,000 on TV ads attacking Chip Roy in his campaign for Texas Attorney General, with another $500,000 planned for the runoff election. Although Roy’s opponent is a Republican Texas state senator who has also voted against wind and solar power, the spending is primarily intended to punish Roy for his work on the OBBA rather than to advance the interests of the clean energy industry.
