A federal judge on Monday heard the first arguments in a case that challenges the state’s limits on donations to political candidates and groups, setting the stage for a seven-day trial set to begin later this month. The lawsuit against the state — brought by three supporters of Republican candidates and an Anchorage Republican district committee — has its roots in recent federal cases that have equated free speech with campaign contributions. The Alaska Republican Party District 18 in Anchorage and the three individual plaintiffs want U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess to strike down annual limits on contributions from political parties and nonresidents, as well as the $500 annual limit that individuals can make to candidates and to groups other than political parties. The trial is set to begin April 25 in Anchorage.
The plaintiffs’ arguments are based on key federal decisions in recent years, including the 2010 Citizens United decision that invalidated limits on corporate and union spending and the 2014 McCutcheon case that struck down a $120,000 limit on individuals’ total contributions to candidates and political parties during two-year election cycles.
Burgess dealt with limited questions in the case on Monday. The plaintiffs asked Burgess to decide — without a trial — to remove limits on the total annual contributions that candidates for office in Alaska can accept from nonresidents.
That challenge deals with an argument brought by plaintiff David Thompson, a Wisconsin resident, who was unable to contribute to the campaign of his brother-in-law, Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, in 2015. Thompson could not do so because Keller had already received the maximum amount of nonresident contributions — $3,000 — that state House candidates are legally allowed to accept under state law, said private attorney Kevin Clarkson, arguing on the plaintiff’s behalf.
Full Article: First oral arguments as GOP supporters attempt to loosen campaign donation limits | Alaska Dispatch News.