Cynthia L. Bauerly

Cynthia L. Bauerly joined the Federal Election Commission in 2008 after her appointment received the unanimous consent of the United States Senate. She served as the Commission’s Chair during 2011 and as the Commission's Vice Chair for the year 2010. She left the Commission on February 1, 2013.

Commissioner Bauerly has extensive experience in law and public policy, particularly in the areas of election administration, campaign finance, ethics reform, technology, and intellectual property. Prior to her appointment to the Commission, Ms. Bauerly served as Legislative Director for United States Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York. She previously served as counsel on the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees.

Commissioner Bauerly has also worked in private practice in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., specializing in complex litigation and appellate law, with a focus on intellectual property. 

Originally from Minnesota, Commissioner Bauerly is a summa cum laude graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She graduated cum laude from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington and received a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University’s School of Environmental and Public Affairs. She served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Florence-Marie Cooper of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the Honorable Theodore R. Boehm of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Statements and opinions

Advisory Opinions

• Statement on Advisory Opinion 2012-20 (Markwayne Mullin), undated (PDF)
• Concurring Opinion on Advisory Opinion 2012-11 (Free Speech), undated(PDF)
• Statement on Advisory Opinion 2011-23 (American Crossroads), December 1, 2011 (PDF)

Enforcement

• MUR 6623, William A. Bennett, February 1, 2013 (PDF)
• MUR 6611, Friends of Laura Ruderman, et al., February 1, 2013 (PDF)
• MUR 6368, Friends of Roy Blunt, et al., January 31, 2013 (PDF)
• MUR 6570, Berman for Congress, et al., January 8, 2013 (PDF)
• MUR 6315, Alvin M. Greene, et al., January 2, 2013 (PDF)
• MUR 6459, Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, et al., November 1, 2012 (PDF)
• MUR 6441, Unknown Respondents, August 15, 2012 (PDF)
• MUR 6502, Nebraska Democratic Party, et al., August 15, 2012 (PDF)
• MUR 6344, United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO, August 7, 2012 (PDF)
• MUR 6357, American Crossroads, February 27, 2012 (PDF)
• ADR 592, Committee to Re-elect Gary Jensen, February 27, 2012 (PDF)
• MUR 6431, New Hampshire Republican Senate Majority Committee, January 13, 2012 (PDF)
• MUR 6415, Kristi for Congress, December 16, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6434, Indiana Democratic Party, November 21, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6137, Informed Catholic Citizens, November 21, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6346, Cornerstone Action and Friends of Kelly Ayotte, October 21, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6377, Friends of Sharron Angle, August 12, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6386, Steve Fincher for Congress, July 21, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6429, Unknown Respondents, June 27, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6399, Yoder for Congress, June 27, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6371, Our Country Deserves Better PAC-TeaPartyExpress.org, et al., June 27, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6345, Chris Nwasike, March 28, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6345, Chris Nwasike, March 28, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6348, David Schweikert for Congress, March 11, 2011 (PDF)
• MUR 6200, Senator John Ensign, November 17, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6038, Doug Lamborn, et al., September 16, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6002, Freedom's Watch, Inc., September 16, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6126, Republican Senate Campaign Committee, September 8, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6207, Mark DeSaulnier, Mark DeSaulnier for Senate 2012, DeSaulnier for Congress, September 8, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6216, Martha Coakley, Coakley for Senate, September 8, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6124, Service Employees' International Union and Service Employees' International union Committee of Political Education and Anna Burger, in her official capacity as treasurer, August 5, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 5625, Aristotle International, May 19, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6320, John Gomez, et al., January 21, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6206, BASF Corporation, January 13, 2010 (PDF)
• MUR 6113, Kirby Hollingsworth, December 18, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5903, PBS&J Corporation, December 17, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5724, Jim Feldkamp for Congress, December 15, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6102, Georgianna Oliver, September 28, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5575, Alaska Democratic Party, Tony Knowles for US Senate, July 27, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6044, Musgrove for US Senate, July 12, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5957, Committee To Elect Sekhon for Congress, June 2, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6056, Protect Colorado Jobs, Inc., June 2, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6047 Vernon Jones for Georgia, May 26, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6096, Americans for Limited Government Research Foundation, et al, May 26, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5842, Economic Freedom Fund, May 21, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5993, Ed Fallon; Ed Fallon for Congress and John Schmacker, in his official capacity as Treasurer; I'm for Iowa, May 14, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6013, Friends of Peter Teahen, May 12, 2009 (PDF)
• MURs 6051 and 6052, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., May 11, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6020, Nancy Pelosi for Congress, May 7, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5988, American Future Fund, April 30, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5910/5694, Americans for Job Security, April 23, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5974, New Summit Republicans, April 14, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5598, Utah Republican Party, John Swallow for Congress, April 9, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5931/ADR 480, Sumter Electrical Cooperative, Inc.; James P. Duncan, April 7, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5945, Kieran Michael Lalor, March 20, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5964, Schock for Congress, March 17, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6029, Missouri Republican State Committee, March 10, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 6001, Orentlicher for Congress, March 18, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5937, Romney for President Inc., March 16, 2009 (PDF)
• MUR 5541, The November Fund and Bill Sittman, in his official capacity as treasurer; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Tom Donohue, December 19, 2008 (PDF)

Rulemaking and litigation

• Statement on the Proposal to Commence a Rulemaking to Address Electioneering Communication Disclosure Rules, October 4, 2012 (PDF)
• Statement regarding Notices of Proposed Rulemakings to Address Citizens United, December 15, 2011 (PDF)
• Statement on the Citizens United Rulemaking, January 20, 2011 (PDF)
• Statement Regarding Van Hollen v. FEC, April 27, 2012 (PDF)
• Statement regarding failure of Commission to seek rehearing en banc in Emily's List v. FEC, October 22, 2009 (PDF)

Audits

• Statement on Audit Report for McCain-Palin 2008, Inc. and McCain-Palin Compliance Fund, Inc., February 1, 2013 (PDF)
• Statement on Final Audit Report for the National Campaign Fund, November 6, 2012 (PDF)
• Statement on Proposed Final Audit Report on the Kansas Republican Party, May 26, 2011 (PDF)

Media and appearances

Articles

• Square Pegs: The Challenges of Existing Federal Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws at the Dawn of the Super PAC, 15 N.Y.U. J. Legis. & Pub. Pol’y 329 (Spring 2012) (with Eric Hallstrom) (PDF)

Remarks and testimony

• Testimony Submitted to the House Subcommittee on Elections of the Committee on House Administration for the hearing "Federal Election Commission: Reviewing Policies, Processes and Procedures", November 3, 2011 (PDF)
• Statement regarding the White House's draft Executive Order on disclosure of political spending by government contractors submitted to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Small Business, May 10, 2011 (PDF)
• Prepared remarks on the Role of the Federal Election Commission after Citizens United, Delivered at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, April 29, 2011 (PDF)

Other statements

• Statement regarding the adoption of the Commission's new Procedure for Disclosure of Documents in the Enforcement Process, May 26, 2011 (PDF)
• Statement on the Release of Documents Subject to a Freedom of Information Act Request, June 16, 2009 (PDF)