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Timeline of Money in Politics

Editorial board memo covers recent campaign finance decisions in Connecticut and New York.

NCSL maintains extensive resources on various aspects of campaign finance, from states’ disclosure requirements to public financing programs and limits on contributions to candidates. This page serves as a table of contents for NCSL's campaign finance resources.

Outside groups spent nearly $1.7 million on eight highly contested Colorado legislative primary races. But it isn’t always easy to figure out where the money came from, despite a 2019 law touted as bringing more transparency to a system that includes cash from dark-money funded nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors. In other instances, discerning […]

Nearly three-quarters of contributions in state elections come from large donors and PACs, but small-dollar donations could make up that share if states move to adopt public financing for campaigns.

You might be squinting hard and scrunching your nose at the map above, wondering what it is. It looks sort of like a map of congressional districts, but if you look closely, you’ll notice the ...

Political spending in state elections by LLC's and nonprofit groups has surged in the decade since Citizens United, but some states are leading the way in strengthening disclosure laws around who’s buying and funding campaign ads.

Questions again arise about what special interests receive for the large donations they make to Utah legislators.

With Aurora joining Denver, Fort Collins and Lakewood in revamping rules on campaign finance in local races, four of the state’s five most populous cities will have controls on the books.

Abbott says local district attorneys have the authority to enforce his ban on local mask mandates. But urban DAs are unlikely to go after their fellow local officials.

After Broward County officials voted to impose a mandate on face coverings, Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to revoke their pay.

Back-and-forth legal rulings have left some school districts with the choice of flouting Abbott and mandating masks — or waiting for the dust to settle.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit by parents challenging his ban on strict mask mandates in schools, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction over the issue.

Austin ISD's mask mandate not affected by court's ruling.

COVID hospitalizations reach the highest levels since Jan.

Eighteen states have already enacted 30 laws this year that will make it harder for Americans to vote.

Biden needs to use his bully pulpit to get federal voting rights legislation passed before it’s too late.

The state is using powers under its controversial new election law that could usurp the authority of local officials.

G.O.P. lawmakers in at least eight states controlled by the party are trying to gain broad influence over the mechanics of voting, in an effort that could further undermine the country’s democratic norms.

In Georgia, Republicans are removing Democrats of color from local boards. In Arkansas, they have stripped election control from county authorities. And they are expanding their election power in many other states.

The federal courts recently hammered three more nails into the coffin of democracy of, by and for the people.

Canada reopened its border to American travelers. The U.S. military will issue a vaccine mandate for troops, while Washington State will do the same for state and health care workers.

In the face of skyrocketing hospitalizations, the heads of cities, counties and school districts have grown desperate for ways to contain the virus.

COVID-19 is surging again in Texas. Hospitalizations are increasing faster than at any other time. Local officials and school leaders are pushing back against Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates.…

COVID-19 is surging again in Texas. Hospitalizations are increasing faster than at any other time. Local officials and school leaders are rebelling against Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates. He…

A new study shows the role of the super rich in politics since the Supreme Court loosened restrictions on political spending more than a decade ago.