ANCHORAGE — Three Alaska campaign finance laws relating to donation limits have been upheld by the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, according to the state's Attorney General's Office.
In its ruling, the court concluded that three out of four of the state's campaign finance laws in question, which were challenged in a 2015 lawsuit, included contribution limits to stop any "quid pro quo corruption," the Attorney General's Office said. The limits include a $500 individual donation yearly limit to candidates and to non-party political groups candidate contributions.
“Alaska’s voters set Alaska’s contribution limits at their current levels to help keep corruption out of Alaska politics,” Alaska Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth said in a statement. “Today, the Ninth Circuit has recognized that important interest. The decision shows that the voters got it right in setting reasonable limits that the State can continue to enforce.”
Lindemuth said the state's campaign finance law relating to "annual aggregate limit" on contributions to candidates was ruled as unconstitutional by the court.
“We are disappointed that the court struck down Alaska’s limit on non-resident contributions,” Lindemuth added. “But we are pleased that the court recognized the importance of the majority of our contribution limits.”