The Democratic Party of Georgia has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state law that allows unlimited contributions to be raised and spent by “leadership committees” on behalf of statewide and legislative candidates. Senate Bill 221, passed in 2021 by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, created eight leadership committees, chaired by top state officials and caucus heads, with no contribution limits, while traditional campaign committees are subject to caps. In 2022, Gov. Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams used their leadership committees to raise $94.6 million, but with no gubernatorial election this year, Kemp’s committee continues to raise funds for Republican legislative candidates. The Democratic Party lawsuit argues this unequal treatment is unconstitutional and violates free speech. They believe the playing field should be level for all candidates. The Governor’s leadership committee has been supporting Republican legislators seeking reelection and aiding challengers in Democratic-held districts. The Democratic Party’s executive director, Kevin Olasanoye, questioned the purpose of campaign finance limits if leadership committees can raise unlimited funds. Former state Sen. Jen Jordan is representing the Democratic Party in the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the law and ensure fairness in campaign funding. The issue raises concerns about the influence of money in politics and the need for equal opportunities for all candidates to compete on a level playing field.
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