Newer Problems in an Old, Broken Campaign Finance Regime—a Post-2024 Reflection

Money in politics is ever-increasing in the United States, and the ways in which it manifests are ever-changing. The 2024 election cycle was no different in this regard, with numerous unique issues in campaign finance arising. The election now being over, a retrospection of these newer problems seems due. This Essay provides just that. Among the issues discussed are cash-for-donations schemes, cash-forregistration schemes, the use of social media moderation to block opponent fundraising (i.e., “contra-butions”), the leveraging of self-funding for vicepresidential nomination, the growth in candidate self-loaning post-FEC v. Cruz, and the uncertain future of laws targeting foreign-influenced corporations. With each issue, I offer potential legislative and doctrinal fixes (within the bounds of present campaign finance jurisprudence).