Campaign Finance – Citizens Union

Citizens Union Releases Report on Super PAC Failures Up and Down the Ballot in 2025 New York City Primaries

August 4, 2025 - Citizens Union today released a report revealing that despite record-breaking spending, Super PAC–backed candidates fell short in municipal primary elections up and down the ballot this June. Outside groups poured $46 million into efforts to influence election outcomes, but failed to elect their preferred candidates in a majority of competitive races, including the mayoral race and in key borough president and City Council contests.

Testimony for the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing

Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.

Group Statement on NYC Campaign Finance Following the Indictment of Mayor Eric Adams

October 8, 2024 - Today, Citizens Union and seven other groups issued the following statement in response to numerous questions about the New York City public matching program since Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. According to the U.S. Attorney, foreign nationals used straw donors to make illegal campaign contributions to Eric Adams.

Citizens Union Comments on 2024 Proposed Changes to the Campaign Finance Board Rules

September 27, 2024 - Testimony to the New York City Campaign Finance Board about proposed 2024 Rule Amendments, in which Citizens Union proposes three comments on the proposed new factors for determining whether an expenditure is independent and the proposed requirement to maintain a website and social media site

Testimony before the City Council – oversight hearings on lobbying reform

April 19, 2024 – Testimony on bills regarding prohibitions lobbying in connection with campaign-related fundraising or political consulting, the city’s post-employment restrictions, and other proposed reforms in lobbying oversight and enforcement.

Group Memo of Opposition to legislation making significant changes to the state public campaign finance program, S8969 (Skoufis)

April 9, 2024 – Citizens joins over a dozen groups in opposition for proposed legislation that would make significant changes to the public campaign finance law before the existing public matching law is used for the first time in an election.

Testimony for the 2024 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing

February 6, 2024 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2025. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.

Citizens Union Applauds Governor Hochul For Vetoing Legislation Weakening the State’s Public Campaign Finance System

December 27, 2023 - The bill Governor Hochul has vetoed ran counter to the goals of the landmark program. This decision means the state’s public campaign finance program will continue to amplify the voices of everyday New Yorkers.

Memo of Support: S995B/A3484A, LLC Transparency Act

December 15, 2023 - Citizens Union urges he Governor to sign the bill that would requirements for foreign and domestic limited liability companies (LLCs) in New York State to publicly disclose their “beneficial owners."

Statement From Fair Elections For New York Coalition on Public Campaign Finance Board’s Budget Request

December 7, 2023 - Citizens Union joins the Fair Elections coalition in a statement urging Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to provide at least $59.5 million for the Public Campaign Finance Program in the state’s next budget.

Citizens Union Responds to Last Minute Bill Undermining Statewide Public Campaign Finance Program

June 7, 2023 - Citizens Union releases the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the state legislature introducing a bill that would fundamentally alter New York State’s public campaign finance program:

Let New York Vote Coalition Urges NYS Legislature to Include Voting Rights and Election Funding in One House Budgets

Feburary 28, 2023 - The Let New York Vote Coalition submitted a letter to NYS Legislative leaders, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie, outlining our coalition’s budget priorities in FY 2023-24.

Testimony for the 2023 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing

February 15, 2023 - Testimony for the 2023 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing, Local Government and General Government, regarding the the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board and the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying

Governor Hochul’s FY 2024 Executive Budget Includes $39.5 million for New York State Public Campaign Finance Board; Fair Elections for New York Coalition Reacts

Today Governor Hochul introduced her FY 2024 executive budget. It includes $39.5 million for the state’s voluntary small donor match…

Statement from Citizens Union on Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY24 Executive Budget

February 1, 2023 - Citizens Union has issued to following statement from executive director Betsy Gotbaum in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY2024 executive budget, which was released earlier today

Coalition Letter Urges New York State Leaders to Protect and Strengthen Democracy in 2023

January 5, 2023 - Citizens Union joined over 100 voting, racial justice, labor, and good government groups to urge Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie to continue leading on voting, election administration, and campaign finance reforms in the 2023 legislative session.

Advocacy Groups Respond to New York State Public Campaign Finance Board Budget Request for FY 2023–2024

December 16, 2022 - Yesterday the New York State Public Campaign Finance Board voted on its budget request for FY 2023–2024. The board’s commissioners approved a request totaling $114.5 million, including $100 million for future matching funds for participating campaigns and $14.5 million for program administration. The new program launched on November 9 and will provide public matching funds to participating candidates for state offices beginning with the 2024 legislative elections.

Memo of Support: Council bill requiring disclosures for independent expenditures in support of or in opposition to municipal ballot proposals, December 2022

December 13, 2022 - Memorandum of Support for Preconsidered Intro. T2022-2607A, Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring disclosure of the identity of contributors to entities making independent expenditures in support of or in opposition to any municipal ballot proposal or referendum

Citizens Union’s testimony before the City Council Committee on Governmental Operations: New York City’s Campaign Finance Program in the 2021 Citywide Elections (December 13, 2022)

Letter to the Legislature on reforming campaign finance oversight and enforcement, March 2022

March 2022 - Group letter to the State Legislature to reform campaign finance oversight in New York, particularly in regards to the work of the Chief Enforcement Counsel and its relation with the State Board of Elections

Testimony before the New York City Campaign Finance Board – Post-Election Hearing, 2021 Election Cycle

Group Memo of Opposition to Council bill proposing changes to budget process for New York City Campaign Finance Board, November 2021

November 26, 2021 - a memorandum of opposition to Int 2429-2021, A local law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to the budget of the Campaign Finance Board, which would reduce the budgetary independence of the Campaign Finance Board

Memo of Opposition to proposed legislation reducing mass-mailing blackout period before elections, October 2021

October 19, 2021 - Memorandum of Opposition to Intro. No. 0034-2018, A Local Law to amend the New York City Charter, in relation to the use of government resources during an election campaign. which would reduce the blackout period for sending official mass-mailings prior to an election

Statement from Citizens Union on the Passing of Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Founding Chair, New York City Campaign Finance Board

April 1, 2020 - Citizen’s Union, New York City’s leading good government group, issued the following statement on the passing of Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J:

Citizens Union Calls on Legislature to Reject Proposals Put Forth by the New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission

December 18, 2019 - We urge the State Legislature to reconvene and reject proposals put forth by the New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission

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