Report of the Campaign Finance Research Task Force

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Session Description

Over the past two years a group of political scientists led by former White House Counsel Robert Bauer and former Bush/Romney campaign lawyer Ben Ginsberg have been assembling a report on the state of the American campaign finance system. The Report which will be released immediately prior to the 2017 APSA Annual Meeting will incorporate new research from this group of political scientists concerning the state of knowledge about the fundamental dynamics of the campaign finance system as it has evolved over the past twenty years. Topics will include the financing of political parties, the rise of dark money, the emergence of outside groups, changes in campaign spending patterns, public understanding and attitudes toward the campaign finance system, and the influence of technological changes on campaigning. Members of the task force include (but are not limited to) Nathaniel Persily, David Magleby, Diana Dwyre, Robin Kolodny, Jeffrey Milyo, David Primo, Erika Franklin Fowler, Bruce Cain, Abby Wood, Ray LaRaja, Adam Bonica, Ken Goldstein, Keith Hamm, Ralph Hall, Robert Boatright, Kenneth Mayer, and Eitan Hersh.

Sub Unit

• Related Groups / Law and Political Process Study Group

Chair

• Nathaniel Persily Stanford University

Presenters

• David B. Magleby Brigham Young University

• Diana Dwyre California State University, Chico

• Raymond J. La Raja University of Massachusetts, Amherst

• Jeffrey Milyo University of Missouri

• Eitan D. Hersh Yale