Commentary

A May FEC decision allowing federal candidates to spend campaign funds on childcare could make running for office significantly more accessible for parents. But its impact will be limited — so candidates and lawmakers are proposing reforms at the state and local levels.

Campaign finance reforms at the state and local level could move the needle and position these offices as accessible stepping stones with far-reaching impact

As midterm elections draw near, media reports on record high campaign spending by new and old political players underscore an emerging trend identified by Mooney as the rise of the Superrich Neophyte Candidate (SNC). In an examination of Illinois’s current (and very expensive) gubernatorial race, Mooney argues that high-spending gubernatorial candidates who have some government experience are more likely to succeed in office than those with none at all.

As Justice Kennedy’s retirement renews focus on how the Supreme Court has enabled unlimited special interest spending and endangered voting rights, law professor Abu El-Haj urges reformers to seek empowerment solutions that do not rely on the courts. Scholars should study relatively robust sites of civic engagement and legislative responsiveness to identify what works, she argues.