Maine residents recently voted in favor of a referendum aimed at restricting donations to political action committees (PACs) that independently spend in candidate elections. The referendum, which passed with overwhelming support, sets a $5,000 cap on individual contributions to super PACs. This move is expected to trigger a legal battle over the limits on individual donations to these influential political entities.
The initiative, the only campaign finance reform measure on the Election Day ballot nationwide, was designed to withstand legal challenges in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United, which allowed super PACs to spend unlimited amounts in elections. The measure does not seek to restrict independent spending on behalf of candidates but focuses on curbing individual donations to super PACs.
