Campaign Finance

Washington Special Session Has Political Fundraising Implications

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:01:16 +0000

An expected special session of the Washington legislature would mean another freeze on political fundraising. State law prohibits lawmakers from soliciting contributions while they are in session. For most members that’s probably not a huge concern since this is an off-election year. But a few legislators will be on this year’s ballot.

The so-called session freeze on fundraising lifts at 12:01am on the day after adjournment.

Starbucks Shareholders Want Ban On Political Contributions

Deborah Wang — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:09:20 +0000

Starbucks holds its annual shareholders' meeting in Seattle on Wednesday. And on the agenda, a proposal from a group of investors that's meant to limit the company's involvement in political campaigns.

Oregon Ballot Measure Campaigns Have Few Big Spenders

Chris Lehman — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:41:57 +0000

Oregon has a spirited history of legislating from the ballot. But this year looks pretty sleepy on the ballot measure front. Oregon voters will decide seven citizen initiatives this year.

But in an unusual twist, the groups behind three of the measures have stopped campaigning. And there's been relatively little spending by the backers of the four others.

Oregon Supreme Court Affirms Unlimited Campaign Contributions

Chris Lehman — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:31:03 +0000

Oregon political campaigns will continue to have access to unlimited campaign contributions. That's the upshot of a ruling Thursday from the Oregon Supreme Court.

New Age Spiritual Leader Risks 'Ridicule' To Support Wash. Democrats

Austin Jenkins — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:30:09 +0000

She is perhaps the Northwest’s most famous new age spiritual leader. JZ Knight of the Ramtha School of Enlightenment in southwest Washington. Now Knight has a new role: major political donor. She recently wrote a $50,000 check to the state Democratic Party.

Wash. Election Regulators Brace For Onslaught Of Third-Party Spending

Austin Jenkins — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:36:24 +0000

Independent Super PACS are playing a big role in the presidential election. At the state level, Washington campaign regulators also predict a deluge of spending by third-party interest groups.