An election year brings ample opportunities for corporations to participate in the political process, and the current political environment can create enormous pressures to do so. But with these opportunities and pressures come legal risks and compliance burdens. Given the differing and complex rules across jurisdictions, companies should be aware of common political law issues
Inside Political Law
Updates on developments in campaign finance, lobbying & government ethics law
Don’t Forget Your California Major Donor Reports!
With redistricting, the “billionaire tax” and other ballot measures, and heated gubernatorial and other races, contributors are giving huge amounts of money this year in California state and local elections. California has a complex campaign finance system, and it can be easy to miss some of the requirements. Key among these is the requirement that…
State FARA Laws Pose Unique Constitutional Challenges
By Alex Langton
In 2025, Texas, Nebraska, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma enacted state-level foreign agent registration and disclosure regimes that were loosely modeled on the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act. And in the first few months of 2026, several states — Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Missouri and West Virginia, to name a few — have already introduced similar bills.
The…
Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2026 Edition)
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2026.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of lobbyists, lobbying reporting, or the…
Covington Announces Pay-to-Play Survey (2026 Edition)
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of pay-to-play laws for 2026.
Companies doing business with the federal government or state and local governments and companies operating in regulated industries are subject to a dizzying array of “pay-to-play” rules. These rules effectively prohibit company executives and employees…
The Paper Trail Starts Now: Minority Document Preservation Letters and Preparing for Oversight to Come
With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate have begun to return to an increasingly familiar tactic of the minority: firing off a flurry of document preservation letters that are a harbinger for the subpoenas to come. These early letters signal that key Democrats intend to hold potential investigative…
Covington Releases Updated Version of “FARA: A Guide for the Perplexed”
In 2018, Covington published the original version of its widely read primer on the Foreign Agents Registration Act, “FARA: A Guide for the Perplexed.” We have updated this primer periodically. This week, the firm released the latest edition of the primer, featuring new analysis of recent Department of Justice guidance and enforcement developments, emerging…
Senator Grassley Introduces Legislation Requiring Disclosure of Foreign Third‑Party Litigation Funding
By Alex Langton
Earlier this month, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced the Litigation Funding Transparency Act of 2026, which would impose significant new disclosure obligations on third‑party litigation funding in major federal civil actions. The bill applies to class actions, multidistrict litigation, and large coordinated federal proceedings involving one hundred or more cases. It reflects rising congressional concern…
A Potentially Overlooked Risk Area: Incorporating Congressional Investigations into Transactional Due Diligence
Congressional investigations are now a common reality across corporate America, and companies large and small are therefore more focused than ever on the potential effects of congressional inquiries into business activities, goals, and strategies. In this new reality, the most sophisticated companies, private equity firms, and other corporate players are adding congressional investigations and other…
Election Recounts and Disputes
Almost every election cycle, some outcomes come down to a small handful of votes. With months of long days, late nights, and lost weekends and millions of dollars in donor investments on the line, campaigns, ballot measure committees, and their donors need certainty that every vote is fairly counted. Combining our nationally recognized Election and…