U.S. District Court Strikes Down Some New Mexico Campaign Contribution Limits that Affect Political Parties

On August 17, U.S. District Court Judge William P. Johnson, a Bush Jr. appointee, struck down three New Mexico campaign contribution limits, but upheld other campaign finance limits. Republican Party of New Mexico v Torrez, 1:11cv-900.

The laws struck down are: (1) a $5,500 limit on contributions from a state party to a county political party; (2) a $5,500 limit from a state party to its nominee for any office other than Governor; (3) an $11,000 limit on contributions from a party to its own gubernatorial nominee.

Laws upheld are: (1) a $27,500 limit on contributions from an individual to a party; (2) a $27,500 limit on contributions from a national party to a state party (however, the limit doesn’t apply to federal office).

Most of these laws were passed in 2009. This lawsuit was filed in 2011. In all those years, the laws had been partially enjoined and various softening amendments had passed the legislature. Thanks to the Institute for Free Speech for this news. Here is the decision. The decision has some useful tables showing the laws of all states. Page 34 compares all the states on the variable of how much individuals may give to a party. Page 51ff has charts on laws of each state on limits from national parties to state parties. At the end of the decision there is a chart showing each state’s limit on out-of-state contributions.


Comments

U.S. District Court Strikes Down Some New Mexico Campaign Contribution Limits that Affect Political Parties — 8 Comments

  1. ATTENTIVE CONLAW STUDENTS –

    STILL NOOOO DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN 1 AND 14-1 AMDTS

    REGARDLESS OF MORON SO-CALLED LAWYERS/JUDGES.

    P-A-T

  2. CNN IS FAKE NEWS AND WHY DOES AZ KEEP POSTING THESE OFF TOPIC NON SEQUITUR POSTS? CAN WE GET AN OPEN THREAD FOR THEM OR SOMETHING IF HE FEELS COMPELLED TO KEEP DOING IT, WHICH I’M SURE HE WILL????

  3. The judges might be morons, but the lawyers are smart. There’s nothing intelligent about wasting your time and your or your client’s money and getting nothing but bad precedents to show for it. Judges don’t like getting overruled, so I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that they’re dumb either. If AZ is so smart, why hasn’t he gotten anything accomplished or been more successful?

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