A federal appeals court has ruled against a portion of Alaska’s campaign finance limits, saying a $3,000 cumulative cap on out-of-state contributions to candidates violates the First Amendment.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld other parts of the campaign finance law, including a limit of $500 per person per candidate, a $500 contribution limit for non-political-party groups, and a limit on how much money a political party can give to a candidate.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Republicans against the state of Alaska’s voter-approved 2006 ballot measure restricting campaign contributions. Alaska District Court judge Timothy Burgess previously ruled in favor of the measure.
