Where are the small donors?
New campaign laws designed to encourage candidates to raise money from small donors have not yet led to a dramatic increase in the number of small donors.
Committees registered for 2024 state legislative campaigns raised $732,000 from individuals who gave $250 or less in the first half of this year, according to disclosure reports released last week.
That’s a less-than-5-percent increase from the $698,000 they raised from small donors at the same point in 2019. In 2021, small donors gave $700,000.
It’s possible the numbers will jump in the coming months. Fundraising activity in the first half of the year usually consists of events within walking distance from the Capitol designed to attract lobbyists.
Once lawmakers leave Albany in June, it shifts toward smaller-dollar barbecues and similar events in their hometowns. They could very well focus a bit more on those this summer.
And candidates on the ballot next year will be able to participate in a new public financing system that provides them with state money — as much as $12 for every $1 raised.
But anybody hoping for an instant dramatic change in the campaign finance status quo won’t find much in the new filings to suggest that has happened. Forty-six state legislators actually raised less from small donors this spring than they did two years ago.
And only about $13,000 of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $4.5 million haul came from donors who gave $250 or less. That 0.3 percent compares to the 0.9 percent that predecessor Andrew Cuomo raised from small donors in the same filing period four years ago.
Hochul will soon be asked to act on a bill approved by lawmakers in June that would take away some of the incentives for collecting small checks.
The current rules provide public funds only for donations of $250 or less. The bill would change it to provide some state money to match checks of any size.
IT’S TUESDAY.
WHERE’S KATHY? In California with no immediate schedule.
WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering remarks at NYPD’s academy graduation ceremony, attending a DCAS government “Hiring Hall” event in the Bronx, and hosting a reception celebrating eastern Europe cultural heritage in New York City.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The passage of legislation in the Israeli Knesset today to undermine judicial independence is a sign that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition are choosing brute power over democracy,” NYC Comptroller Brad Lander said about the Israeli Knesset vote on judicial overhaul.
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“Since at least seven people have died at Rikers or in a hospital after release so far this year, that means at least 120 people have died on DOC’s watch since 2014.
“Only 68 of those 120 deaths were reported by the DOC to the public or the press.”
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— A GOP city council candidate in Queens was sued by his opponent for alleged voter fraud. (Queens Chronicle)
— Attorney General Letitia James pushed for expanding the number of available languages for emergency alerts. (Spectrum News)
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“For real, how many private jets do these CEOs need? It is insatiable. It is unacceptable. I do not know how any person can say I need another $100 million before another person can have health care.”
Retired NYPD cop Mike Sapraicone emerges as GOP challenger to lying Rep. George Santos for 2024, by the New York Post’s Carl Campanile
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Alex Nguyen of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office … Christine Quinn of Win … Daily Mail’s Kelly Laco … Fox News’ Katy Ricalde … Bloomberg’s Mike Nizza … Robert Zoellick ... Alex Pfeiffer … Austin Marcus … Alan Chartock … Katie Martin … Kevin Elkins … NBC’s Jesselyn Cook
… (was Monday): Lowell Bergman ... Michael Sugerman ... Alan Veingrad ... A.J. Baime ... Sharon Yeshaya (h/ts Jewish Insider)
WEEKEND WEDDING — Daniel Lippman, a White House and Washington reporter for POLITICO, on Saturday married Sophia Narrett, an artist who shows with Kohn Gallery and Perrotin. The couple held a Shabbat dinner Friday night and were wed in a Jewish ceremony. They met at a mutual friend’s birthday party. Four pics via Kyla Jeanette Photography
OUT AND ABOUT — New York Post political reporter Jon Levine and Breitbart News politics editor Emma-Jo Morris hosted a mock wedding at The Beach Cafe on the Upper East Side Monday night, after a junk news website linked the pair in a headline. (Both are gay, and Morris is already married.)
Spotted there: Miranda Devine and Kelly Jane Torrance of the Post, James Lalino of Project Veritas, Ash Bennington, Itay Milner, Ami Horowitz, Adrien Lesser, Benno Kass, Eduardo Neret, and Mahsa Pelosky.
MAKING MOVES — Blake Zeff has joined NYC Comptroller Brad Lander’s office as deputy comptroller for communications and strategic initiatives. Zeff recently directed the student debt documentary “Loan Wolves.” … Lander’s previous communications director Naomi Dann will now serve as a senior advisor.
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Bills missing early minority contracting goals on new stadium, by Buffalo News’ Sandra Tan
Source: https://www.politico.com/
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