This post is a paid advertisement by the True Conservatives Mississippi PAC.
Chris McDaniel’s campaign for Lt. Governor is now subject to penalties under state law of up to $400,000. Here’s why:
State Senator Chris McDaniel announced his campaign for Lt. Governor on January 30, 2023. Since that time, he filed the May 10, 2023 campaign finance periodic report (to report fundraising and spending during January 1–April 30, 2023) under the political committee name of “Committee to Elect Chris McDaniel.”
According to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office quoted in recent news articles, the Committee to Elect Chris McDaniel has not filed a Statement of Organization:
· “We have not received a Statement of Organization from the Committee to Elect Chris McDaniel.” The statement said that candidates must file a statement of organization within 48 hours of receiving or spending $200. Failure to do so can eventually result in administrative penalties from the state Ethics Commission, which will eventually turn the case over to the AG’s office if a candidate continues to fail to file. – Mississippi Today, 5/11/23
· “a spokesperson for (Secretary of State) Watson said their office has never received a statement of organization from McDaniel's committee. Failure of a candidate or committee to comply with the reporting requirements or statement of organization timeline can each result in penalties being assessed by the Mississippi Ethics Commission.” – Clarion-Ledger, 5/11/23
In the most recent campaign finance report filing (May 10, 2023) by the Committee to Elect Chris McDaniel, since announcing his campaign on January 30, 2023, his political committee has received 80 contributions in excess of $200—meaning he has committed 80 violations that could add up to $400,000 penalties if the maximum of $5000 per violation was enforced.
Under state law, Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-803 outlines the rules for political committees, requiring them to file a Statement of Organization no later than 48 hours after receiving contributions in excess of $200 or making expenditures in excess of $200. Penalties for violating this law are up to “$5000 per violation.”
The Mississippi Ethics Commission specifically addresses this violation on the top of its Campaign Finance Law web pagesaying, “Pursuant to Section 23-15-803, the Ethics Commission can fine a political committee which fails to file a statement of organization with the Secretary of State.”
Below are the details of state law regarding political committees and requirements of filing a Statement of Organization as well as penalties for violations:
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-803:
(1) Each political committee shall file a statement of organization which must be received by the Secretary of State no later than forty-eight (48) hours after:
(a) Receipt of contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), or (b) Having made expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00).
(2) The content of the statement of organization of a political committee shall include:
(a) The name, address, officers, and members of the committee;
(b) The designation of a chair of the organization and a custodian of the financial books, records and accounts of the organization, who shall be designated treasurer; and
(c) If the committee is authorized by a candidate, then the name, address, office sought and party affiliation of the candidate.
(3) Any change in information previously submitted in a statement of organization shall be reported and noted on the next regularly scheduled report.
(4) In addition to any other penalties provided by law, the Mississippi Ethics Commission may impose administrative penalties against any political committee that fails to comply with the requirements of this section in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per violation. The notice, hearing and appeals provisions of Section 23-15-813shall apply to any action taken pursuant to this subsection (4). The Mississippi Ethics Commission may pursue judicial enforcement of any penalties issued pursuant to this section.
Chris McDaniel has been a politician for 15 years, running for State Senate multiple times (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) and U.S. Senate three times (2014 and twice in 2018). He has been making frequent campaign finance report filings for 15 years so there is no excuse for ignoring the law now in his race for Lt. Governor.
