Sugarman Seeks to Rein in IDC Campaign Arms

By Chris Bragg

Board of Elections chief enforcement counsel Risa Sugarman filed a lawsuit earlier this month seeking to curb campaign fundraising committees set up by the state Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference, court filings show.

If Sugarman is successful, the lawsuit could have consequences for the 2018 elections, when a number of IDC members, who broke away from mainline Democrats in 2011 and have aligned with Republicans, may face primaries inspired by the election of President Donald Trump.

Under an arrangement struck last year, the IDC is using campaign accounts associated with the state Independence Party – a minor party with a statewide ballot line – to boost its ability to raise and spend money in elections. Unlike the IDC’s previous political action committee, its new party campaign committee can take six-figure campaign donations and transfer unlimited amounts to IDC candidates. And its housekeeping committee meant for party-building operations could take unlimited sums.

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Source: timesunion.com (via The Empire Report)