Lawler to Introduce Bill Cracking Down on Candidate Coordination With Super PACs

Washington, D. C. – 10/14/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) announced the Stop Illegal Super PAC Coordination Act, legislation to crack down on coordination between congressional candidates and super PACs to prohibit joint fundraising committees (JFC) from placing political advertising expenditures disguised as solicitations. Under current Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules, joint fundraising committees can bring together candidates and certain political committees that accept unlimited contributions. While the FEC has permitted these arrangements for fundraising solicitations and event announcements, its guidance has not specifically addressed political advertising expenditures by these committees, allowing candidates to spend almost unlimited amounts on media buys. This legislation would stop this unfair practice by prohibiting these joint fundraising committees from purchasing broadcast, cable, satellite, or paid digital advertising, while allowing them to continue traditional fundraising activities. “Coordination of this kind between political campaigns and super PACs allows candidates to skirt campaign finance laws and funnel unlimited money into their campaigns. Americans deserve transparency and accountability in our elections. We need clear rules that prevent candidates from using these arrangements to get around campaign finance limits and protect the integrity of our elections,” said Congressman Lawler. Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. ###