Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral campaign took foreign cash, raising compliance questions
From Fox News: Analysis of NYC campaign finance filings by Fox News has found that the campaign of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City, accepted at least 170 donations from addresses outside the US, raising questions of whether the donations came from US citizens. Donations from individuals who are not US citizens or permanent legal residents are prohibited by campaign finance law. The donations totaled $13,000, out of the $4 million raised by the Mamdani campaign. 91 of them have been refunded, including a $500 donation from Mamdani’s mother-in-law.
As Trump’s Justice Dept. Pursues His Enemies, an Ally Goes on Trial
From The New York Times: Xinyue Lou, a Chinese American businessman who formerly worked for the Chinese government’s press office and now resides in Staten Island, is on trial for funneling straw donations from a Chinese national to President Trump’s 2020 re-election effort. Prosecutors allege that Lou sought to skirt campaign finance law by making donations to President Trump’s campaign using funds provided by a Chinese national, who would be prohibited from donating to an American campaign. Lou made a $25,000 contribution to Trump’s fundraising committee in exchange for 2 VIP fundraiser tickets and a photo with President Trump.
Investigation reveals Ohio commission struggled to recoup $96 million campaign finance fees
From 10WBNS: An investigation by local news in Ohio has revealed that the Ohio Election Commission has struggled to actually collect the fines it issues for violations of state campaign finance laws. According to the investigation, more than $96 million in fines issued since 1987 have remained unpaid. The OEC’s Executive Director, Philip Richter, has stated that the Commission doesn’t have the power to enforce fines, merely to notify the recipient of their fine. The Commission has to pass the judgment on to the attorney general’s office for enforcement. In response to the Commission’s backlog of fines, Ohio lawmakers decided to replace it with a new Ohio Elections Integrity Commission, which will take over campaign finance enforcement in 2026.
Janet Mills raises $1 million in first 24 hours after entering U.S. race, campaign says
From the Portland Press Herald: Janet Mills, the Democratic governor of Maine who recently announced her campaign for US Senate to challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins, has announced that her campaign raised nearly $1 million, 24 hours after launching. Additionally, Mills has launched a joint fundraising campaign with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The other two major candidates in the Democratic primary, Graham Platner and Jordan Wood, have raised $4 million and $3 million, respectively. Platner launched his campaign in late August, Wood in April. Susan Collins reports having raised $8.1 million this election cycle, and a Super PAC supporting her, Pine Tree Results, had raised $5.6 million as of June 30th.
