Golden, Fitzpatrick reintroduce bill to ban foreign donations in state, local referendums

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today reintroduced the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, which would ban foreign nationals from making political contributions in state and local ballot initiatives and recall elections. 

“Foreign nationals should never be able to buy influence in state and local elections, but that’s exactly what current campaign finance laws allow,” Golden said. “I’ve long been proud to partner with Rep. Fitzpatrick on making America’s political process cleaner and fairer, and this bipartisan bill would nationalize another one of Maine’s important reforms: banning foreign contributions in all elections.”

“American people. Foreign nationals have no place influencing our laws, our ballots, or our future. Whether it’s a presidential race or a local referendum, every taxpayer-funded election must be protected from foreign interference. This bipartisan legislation closes a dangerous loophole and sends a clear message: our democracy is not for sale,” Fitzpatrick said.

While the Federal Election Campaign Act bars foreign donations in federal, state and local elections, the Federal Elections Commission and Supreme Court have interpreted that the term “election” in the law only applies to candidate campaigns — not ballot initiatives, recall referendums or other forms of lobbying and issue advocacy.

Maine is one of only 15 states to pass its own law banning foreign contributions in ballot initiatives.

Golden has fought to limit foreign influence in American elections during his time in Congress. Last year, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act was part of Golden’s Government Integrity and Anti-Corruption Plan, a set of 14 bills designed to prevent political leaders from leveraging their position for profit, increase transparency and reduce the influence of dark money and foreign interference in American democracy.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.