Hogan raises money amid speculation of White House bid
December 1, 2022 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Term-limited Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan raised money and launched a political action committee on Wednesday amid speculation he will run for president in 2024, telling hundreds of supporters he'll make a decision after he leaves office in January.
Fall candidates, PACs spend $15M in 2 NC Supreme Court races
November 5, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A massive amount of money has been spent in a pair of North Carolina Supreme Court elections next week that could decide the court's partisan tilt for several years.
A review of campaign finance reports due this week and other filings with the State Board of Elections shows the four general election candidates seeking two positions and affluent political action committees have spent at least $15 million combined to try to influence voters.
Biden is ‘not buying’ that Democrats may lose in midterms
November 5, 2022 GMTWatchdog to probe tourism contract with Youngkin ad-maker
October 26, 2022 GMTRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s state government watchdog agency said Wednesday it will examine the awarding of a six-figure contract to Gov.
Virginia’s Youngkin hauls in cash, campaigns cross-country
October 24, 2022 GMTRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin continued to raise funds at a quick clip over the past three months, outpacing his recent predecessors, while also traveling the country building his national profile and boosting midterm candidates.
Groups sue to put super PAC question on 2024 state ballot
October 24, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Groups pushing for a 2024 ballot question aimed at reining in the spending power of super PACs filed two lawsuits in Massachusetts on Monday that target a decision by the state attorney general's office to block the question on the grounds that it would infringe on First Amendment rights.
Cuomo’s return: Ex-gov launches podcast, laments downfall
October 19, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Cuomo isn’t begging for forgiveness.
Fourteen months after resigning from office in a sexual harassment scandal, the former New York governor is elbowing his way back into the public eye, launching a podcast and a political action committee in what could be the first steps toward a comeback bid for political office.
Former governor Cuomo forming PAC, hosting weekly podcast
September 29, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking his biggest steps yet to return to public life, more than a year after resigning in the wake of a bevy of sexual harassment allegations.
Abortion-rights group leader lends support to NC candidates
September 27, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The head of a national political action committee working to elect women who support abortion rights visited North Carolina on Tuesday, joining candidates she says must win this fall to block Republican attempts to enact more restrictions.
Trump allies create a new super PAC called MAGA Inc.
September 23, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Top allies of former President Donald Trump are creating a new super PAC that's expected to serve as the main vehicle for his midterm spending and could become a key part of his campaign infrastructure should he move forward with a 2024 White House run.
Hotel mogul, UFO believer spending in Nevada governor’s race
September 14, 2022 GMTRENO, Nev. (AP) — Robert Bigelow, a Las Vegas-based hotel magnate, has always had a cause.
For decades, he invested his hotel profits into UFO research, creating his own aerospace company while lobbying senators to fund additional research.
Trump’s PAC faces scrutiny amid intensifying legal probes
September 13, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Sitting on top of more than $115 million across several political committees, Donald Trump has positioned himself as a uniquely indomitable force in the GOP who would almost certainly have the resources to swamp his rivals if he launched another presidential campaign.
Grand jury probing Trump leadership PAC, reports say
September 9, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A federal grand jury is reportedly seeking information about Donald Trump's Save America leadership PAC as investigations into the former president continue to expand.
Democratic PAC says Laxalt violated campaign finance law
August 19, 2022 GMTRENO, Nev. (AP) — A political action committee backing Democratic candidates filed a complaint Friday alleging that Nevada Republican Senate candidate Adam Laxalt violated campaign finance laws by using an annual GOP cookout to promote his campaign while he was president of the PAC that organized it.
Ex-gov. candidate Kristof donates remaining political cash
August 3, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Former Oregon gubernatorial candidate Nick Kristof said Monday he is getting back into journalism.
The longtime New York Times columnist left his job last year to try a run at the state’s highest elected office.
Mills looking into amendment to protect abortion rights
July 27, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Tuesday that her administration is reviewing whether the right to an abortion is already enshrined in the Maine Constitution, or if an amendment is warranted.
GOP consultant tapped for Tennessee fish and wildlife panel
July 13, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A prominent Republican political consultant is joining the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.
A news release says Chip Saltsman received the appointment from state House Speaker Cameron Sexton, one of Saltsman’s biggest political clients.
Oklahoma Senate PAC agrees to pay fines to state, dissolve
July 12, 2022 GMTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An influential political action committee that has helped elect Republicans to the Oklahoma Senate has agreed to dissolve and pay a fine of more than $60,000 to the state after an investigation revealed multiple state campaign finance rule violations.
Ex-Cincinnati councilman convicted on corruption charges
July 8, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — A former Cincinnati City Council member was convicted Friday of federal charges of bribery and attempted extortion but was acquitted on four other counts.
Democrat P.G. Sittenfeld, 37, had maintained his innocence against allegations that he agreed to accept $40,000 in payments to his political action committee to “deliver the votes” in the City Council for a proposed downtown real estate development.
Trump to rally for Palin, Dunleavy, Tshibaka in Alaska
June 29, 2022 GMTJUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Former President Donald Trump plans to attend a rally in Alaska next week for candidates he has endorsed in the state, including Sarah Palin, who is running for the Alaska's only U.S.
ND governor targets fellow Republicans to mixed results
June 15, 2022 GMTBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum’s expensive effort to influence the GOP primary and reshape the Legislature with more people who support his spending and policy goals was a mixed bag, with one of his main political foes ousted but some others winning their races.
National groups flooding local prosecutor races with money
June 10, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A local district attorney's race in Maine wasn't generating much attention until a political action committee linked to a deep-pocketed liberal donor with international name recognition suddenly took an interest.
GOP governor hopeful Pillen endorsed by Nebraska Cattlemen
June 2, 2022 GMTLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Republican governor hopeful Jim Pillen scored the endorsement Thursday of the Nebraska Cattlemen, a top advocacy group for the state's ranchers.
Pillen, a veterinarian and the owner of a hog farm operation, is running to replace current Gov.
Weaver tallies up GOP endorsements in SC Education race
May 25, 2022 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — In her pursuit of South Carolina's top education job, Republican Ellen Weaver has received endorsements from a number of party leaders across the state, as well a political action committee led by one of the state's top GOP newcomers.
North Dakota governor’s own funds target fellow Republicans
May 16, 2022 GMTBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota GOP Gov. Doug Burgum has shelled out nearly $1 million ahead of the state’s primary election largely to a political action campaign that historically has focused on defeating Republican far-right candidates or those who do not agree with his spending initiatives and policy goals.
Crypto comes to Washington. Will the millions buy influence?
May 12, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Erin Houchin braced for the worst when a mysterious, well-financed group started buying television ads last month in her highly competitive southern Indiana congressional race.
Houchin assumed she would face a negative blitz, like the one that crushed her in 2016 when she ran for the same seat.
Idaho hospital sues Ammon Bundy and associate for defamation
May 12, 2022 GMTBOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho hospital that went on lockdown in March after far-right activists protested outside is suing Ammon Bundy, Diego Rodriguez and their various political organizations for defamation and “sustained online attacks."
Ex-Idaho cops, sheriffs oppose McGeachin’s run for governor
May 3, 2022 GMTBOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republican Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s association with what a group of retired Idaho county sheriffs and police officers said are extreme, anti-law enforcement factions prompted them on Tuesday to announce they have joined together to oppose her run for governor.
State turns to court after ex-House aide refuses subpoenas
April 26, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's attorney general is taking the one-time chief of staff of a former House speaker to court after he refused to comply with subpoenas in the investigation of a shadowy political action committee.
Former Indiana casino executive pleads guilty to tax fraud
April 18, 2022 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A former Indiana casino executive pleaded guilty Monday to one count of filing a false tax return in a scheme to funnel cash to a political action committee associated with the Marion County Republican Party.
Trump PAC gives $500,000 to attack Georgia’s Brian Kemp
April 14, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s political action committee has given $500,000 to a group that is running attack ads in Georgia against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
‘Wrong’: Dem candidates blast PAC influence in new district
April 13, 2022 GMTSALEM, Ore. (AP) — The battle over who represents Oregon's new congressional district became heated Tuesday as six Democratic candidates jointly denounced almost $1 million in support for a rival party member by a super PAC that focuses on electing Democrats to the U.S.
Trump endorses Palin in bid for Alaska’s sole House seat
April 4, 2022 GMTANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin picked up a prized endorsement from former President Donald Trump in her bid to fill the remainder of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term.
Nevada anti-abortion group renews push for parental consent
March 3, 2022 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Anti-abortion advocates in Nevada are renewing a push to force the state Legislature to pass a law requiring parental notification before a person under 18 years old undergoes a medical procedure to end a pregnancy.
Noem campaign says it raised $8.5 million last year
January 28, 2022 GMTSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem reelection campaign said Friday that she has raised $8.5 million in 2021, touting a historical fundraising haul for a South Dakota gubernatorial candidate.
Nevada initiative would allow new breakaway school districts
January 22, 2022 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Amid reports of struggling student performance and school board upheavals, a group wants to ask Nevada voters to give communities the power to secede from large school districts.
McSwain lands endorsement of big GOP campaign donor
January 20, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Bill McSwain, the chief federal prosecutor in Philadelphia under former President Donald Trump, received the endorsement a major Republican campaign donor on Wednesday in a big field of GOP candidates seeking the party's nomination for governor.
Judge rejects lawsuit against open primary ballot question
January 8, 2022 GMTCARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A Carson City judge on Thursday rejected a challenge to a political action committee's efforts to bring open primaries and ranked-choice voting in general elections to Nevada.
Trump endorses GOP’s Schmidt in race for Kansas governor
January 3, 2022 GMTTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Monday gave presumed Republican nominee Derek Schmidt his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in the Kansas governor's race.
The endorsement came in a statement from Trump through his Save America political action committee that was tweeted by the PAC's spokesperson.
Teachers’ union sues to withdraw measures from Nevada ballot
December 30, 2021 GMTCARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Political action committees backed by Nevada's largest teachers' union are suing the secretary of state to remove two of their own tax measures from the 2022 ballot.
“The Secretary of State has no discretion under law to refuse to permit Petitioners to withdraw their respective initiative petitions, and therefore Petitioners are entitled to writs of mandamus directing her to do so,” the union's attorneys argue in the lawsuit filed this week.
Big donor in high court race eyeing candidates for governor
December 8, 2021 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The biggest single campaign donor in this year's race for a seat on Pennsylvania's Supreme Court is now aiming to endorse a candidate for governor and, with $20 million in a bank account, it could be a transformative endorsement.
Longtime political consultant gets probation in tax case
December 2, 2021 GMTST. LOUIS (AP) — A longtime Missouri Republican political consultant and lobbyist was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation for a federal tax crime.
David Barklage was indicted in April for failing to report $443,633 in income from 2012 through 2014.
Missouri audit: Ex-county official skirted transparency
November 23, 2021 GMTJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri county commissioner plotted ways to skirt open meeting rules and tried to get a county employee to do work for his political action committee, according to a state audit report released Tuesday.
Chase slammed for clash over GOP event with Donald Trump Jr.
November 18, 2021 GMTCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Conservatives railed against JPMorgan Chase on Thursday after a subsidiary pulled out of a business deal related to a Missouri political fundraiser that was to feature Donald Trump Jr.
Pro-Parson committee fined for taking out-of-state donation
November 18, 2021 GMTJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — An independent political action committee that supports Missouri Gov. Mike Parson was fined this week for taking a donation from an out-of-state committee, according to the state campaign finance oversight agency.
3 charged with collecting $3.5M for phony political groups
November 14, 2021 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Three men face federal charges for running two fraudulent political action committees during the 2016 election and collecting $3.5 million from unwitting donors, prosecutors said.
Group that fought Nebraska sex ed standards forms PAC
November 12, 2021 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Members of a group that led a push to scrap proposed statewide sex education standards that would have covered gender identity and sexual orientation have formed a political action committee.
Trump endorses GOP rival of Idaho incumbent governor
November 10, 2021 GMTBOISE, Idaho (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin over incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little in the 2022 race for governor.
Trump made the endorsement late Tuesday through his political action committee following visits from Little and McGeachin last week to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Parties fight over infrastructure bill attack ad in Nevada
October 29, 2021 GMTCARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A year before the 2022 election, a fight over an attack ad airing on local television in Nevada is pointing to challenges both parties may face attempting to turn the debate over an infrastructure bill in Congress into campaign fodder.
Stacey Abrams group donates $1.34M to wipe out medical debts
October 27, 2021 GMTATLANTA (AP) — The political organization led by prominent Democrat Stacey Abrams is branching out into paying off medical debts.
The Fair Fight Political Action Committee on Wednesday told The Associated Press it has donated $1.34 million from its political action committee to the nonprofit organization RIP Medical Debt to wipe out debt with a face value of $212 million that is owed by 108,000 people in Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
PAC uses Missouri governor’s attack on paper to raise money
October 21, 2021 GMTJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A political action committee backing Republican Gov. Mike Parson is raising money with a new video highlighting his attacks on a Missouri newspaper that discovered a flaw in a state agency's cybersecurity and waited for it to be fixed before publishing a story.
CEO: Dominion wants money back from anti-Youngkin PAC
October 19, 2021 GMTRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Dominion Energy’s CEO said the company's political action committee didn’t properly vet an anti-Glenn Youngkin PAC before giving it large donations, and Dominion wants its money back.
Columnist forms committee for Oregon gubernatorial run
October 12, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof after months of public exploration has taken a step toward running for Oregon governor by forming a political action committee.
Kristof, 62, officially filled the committee paperwork Tuesday, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Groups backing Murphy outstrip those supporting Ciattarelli
October 6, 2021 GMTTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Political contributions from groups backing Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in this year's election so far outpace those supporting his Republican rival, Jack Ciattarelli, new figures out Wednesday showed.
Opponents target Ted Budd, Trump’s choice in GOP Senate race
October 5, 2021 GMTMOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's endorsement has Rep. Ted Budd playing defense in North Carolina's GOP Senate primary, as opponents accuse him of benefiting from a bankruptcy that cost farmers millions and being beholden to a conservative political action committee.
Rochester mayor’s trial will scrutinize campaign financing
October 3, 2021 GMTROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is scheduled to go on trial this week along with two associates on charges they broke campaign finance rules during her 2017 reelection campaign.
Ex-Colorado GOP head disbarred in pro-Trump PAC funds case
September 23, 2021 GMTDENVER (AP) — Former Colorado Republican Party chair Ryan Call will be disbarred after acknowledging he took nearly $280,000 from a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump while Call served as the political action committee's treasurer, Colorado Politics reports.
New group forms to help Republican Kleefisch win election
September 16, 2021 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new political action committee headed by a longtime Republican operative has formed to help Rebecca Kleefisch win the governor's race.
Stephan Thompson, who previously served as head of the Wisconsin Republican Party and ran Gov.
Trump endorses Tennessee Gov. Lee in 2022 reelection bid
August 14, 2021 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in his 2022 reelection campaign.
Lee tweeted out the endorsement Friday released by Trump's political action committee.
Man, 82, pleads guilty in scheme to swindle political donors
August 2, 2021 GMTBLYTHE, Calif. (AP) — An 82-year-old Southern California man has pleaded guilty in a New York federal court to defrauding thousands of donors out of more than $250,000 given to phony political action committees purported to be associated with Democratic Party candidates, prosecutors said.