May 27, 2026

Agenda (129.89 KB)

1. Ratification of the Minutes of the May 6, 2026 Meeting

Motion: To ratify the May 6, 2026 minutes as presented
Made by:  Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire

Vote: 4-0

2. Complaints about Red Boxing by Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates

At the Commission’s May 6, 2026 meeting, the Commission considered complaints against three Democratic candidates for Governor concerning red box messages on their campaign websites. The Commission will give the issue additional consideration after reviewing a legal memo from its counsel and other input.

Additional Materials - Campaign Legal Center Comments

Additional Materials - Draft Advisory Statement

Motion: To adopt the Advisory Statement and promulgate it as effectively as possible.
Made by:  Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Bailey

Vote: 4-0 

3. Campaign Finance Reporting by State Rep. Richard Campbell

Commission staff suggest obtaining bank statements for the 2022 and 2024 election campaigns of State Representative Richard Campbell in light of conflicting campaign finance reporting about the amount of the Representative’s 2024 surplus campaign funds.

Motion: To authorize the staff to investigate the matter.
Made by:  Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Gross

Vote: 4-0

4. Rulemaking

The Commission will decide whether to initiate a rulemaking regarding disclosure statements in paid communications to voters containing misleading images or audio of candidates and the increased threshold for independent expenditure reports.

Additional Material - Diagram for Rulemaking

Motion: To proceed with the Rulemaking process.
Made by:  Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Bailey

Vote: 4-0

5. Training on Freedom of Access Act Requirements

6. Request to Investigate Robert Charles regarding midgeleyexposed.com

The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgley requests the Commission investigate whether his primary election opponent, Robert “Bobby” Charles, is responsible for an anonymous website attacking Mr. Midgley.

Additional Materials - Response by Bobby Charles

Additional Materials - Response to Bobby Charles

Motion: To open an investigation into midgelyexposed.com to determine who financed it, and based on that, whether or not the website should have had a different disclosure statement.
Made by:  Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Gross

Vote: 4-0

Other Business - none

Executive Session - none

ADJOURNMENT - 10:11 a.m.