Category: Challenging Foreign Influence

Free Speech For People Files Amicus Brief in Support of Maine’s Law to End Foreign-Government-Influenced Corporate Spending in Maine Elections

On January 21, 2026, Free Speech For People and local counsel Peter J. Brann filed an amicus brief in federal district court in support of Maine’s law prohibiting political spending by corporations that are substantially owned by foreign governments. A historic margin of Maine voters voted in favor of the law in 2022, which defines
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New York State Senate Advances Democracy Preservation Act, Rejecting Multinational Corporate Influence in State Elections

Bill moves one step closer to New York barring foreign-influenced corporations from spending in state and local elections ALBANY, NY (January 12, 2026) – The New York State Senate today passed, with bipartisan support, the Democracy Preservation Act (S324), landmark legislation designed to block multinational corporations with significant foreign ownership from spending money to influence
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New Op-Ed: We must protect Pennsylvania’s elections from multinational corporations

Rabbi Michael Pollack and FSFP Campaign Organizer Jax Foley have a new op-ed in Penn Live urging Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass HB497, closing a dangerous loophole that allows foreign-influenced corporations to spend money in state and local elections. They write: Foreign-influenced corporations can drown out the voices of Pennsylvania residents, skewing policies on everything from
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Hawaii State Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Barring Multinational Corporations from Interfering in Local and State Elections

If passed in the House and signed into law, Hawaii would be the second state following Minnesota to ban multinational corporate money in elections. Honolulu, Hawaii (March 5, 2025) – The Hawaii State Senate yesterday passed unanimously and with bipartisan support SB1032, a bill prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence local and state
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Illinois Lawmakers Consider Bill to Bar Multinational Corporations From Interfering in State and Local Elections

SPRINGFIELD, IL  –  Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill to preserve American self-government by closing a significant loophole that allows foreign-influenced corporations to spend money to influence Illinois elections.  The legislation, introduced in the House by Representative Amy Briel (HB3071), would prohibit corporations from spending money in Illinois elections if a single foreign investor holds
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Free Speech For People Statement on the Federal District Court ruling in Minnesota Chamber of Commerce v. Choi

In a decision that tramples over a state’s right to protect its own democratic self-governance from foreign interference, a federal district court judge in Minnesota on February 7, 2025, permanently enjoined Minn. Stat. § 211B.15, a Minnesota statute that bars foreign-influenced corporations from spending unlimited money in Minnesota’s elections. The decision undermines the state’s authority
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New York State Senate Says No to Multinational Corporations Interfering in State Elections, Passes Democracy Preservation Act

If passed in the Assembly and signed into law, New York would be the second state following Minnesota to ban foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence state and local elections.  ALBANY, NY (January 14, 2025) – On January 13th, the New York State Senate passed, with bipartisan support, the Democracy Preservation Act (S324), a
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FSFP Statement on the Indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams

On September 26, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by federal prosecutors in Manhattan on five counts including soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The evidence presented in this indictment, if proven in court, demonstrates the clear threat to our democracy and to the promise of American self-government when foreign actors try to
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Pro-Democracy Activists March on Harrisburg to Demand Action to Defend Democracy

HARRISBURG, PA—Following a three-day, 35-mile march from Lancaster to Harrisburg, on Monday, September 16th, MarchOnHarrisburg led a group of anti-corruption activists to the State Capitol Building to demand the State Senate follow the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and pass HB2433, a bill banning foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence state and local elections.  Alexandra
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Free Speech For People and Clean Elections Minnesota File Amicus Brief to Uphold Minnesota’s Ban on Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in Elections

On August 16, Free Speech For People and the Minnesota law firm, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, on behalf of Clean Elections Minnesota, filed an amicus brief in federal court in support of the State of Minnesota and its landmark law prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in state elections. The law, which protects Minnesota voters and
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