AO 2019-16: Unauthorized committee’s use of abbreviation of candidate's name
An unauthorized committee may include a candidate’s initials in its registered name because the initials do not constitute the “name” of a candidate under the facts presented.
Background
Philip Shemanski sought to register an unauthorized political committee aimed at “the defeat of Donald Trump’s 2020 Presidential re-election bid” using the initials “DT” in the name of the committee.
Analysis
The Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits “any political committee which is not an authorized committee” of a candidate from including “the name of any candidate in its name.”
The Commission concluded that the initials “DT” do not constitute the name of a candidate since the initials are an abbreviation, not a full first or last name or nickname, and are not commonly used to refer to President Trump. The Commission also noted that there are at least two other federal officeholders up for re-election in 2020 with the initials “DT.” Accordingly, the Commission allowed the initials “DT” to be included in the unauthorized committee’s registered name.
Date issued: June 18, 2020; Length: 3 pages
Citations
Statute
52 U.S.C. §30102
Organization of political committees