The Federal Election Commission is blocking a growing petition campaign by over 200,000 people who want to tell Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to run for president.
The “Ready for Ron” petition has reached 225,000, and its organizers are eager to share the names, emails, and addresses with DeSantis to show him how deep his support is as he considers a likely bid for president.
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But the FEC is increasing its efforts to block the sharing, claiming that the list amounts to an expensive in-kind contribution that isn’t allowed under normal spending rules the agency is in charge of enforcing.
The two sides have been battling each other in court and filed arguments late Tuesday in the case that is heating up just as DeSantis readies to announce his plans to run or stay out of the race.
The federal judge in the case brought by Ready for Ron against the FEC has indicated he wants to rule soon on whether the group can hand the petition to DeSantis.
“…there is simply no basis for the FEC to stand in the way of Americans telling [Ron] they want him to run… We’re going to fight to protect our right to Free Speech and Free Association to draft DeSantis to seek the presidency, and we’re going to win.” @DanBackerEsq https://t.co/YfzUxJ2JWT
— Ready for Ron (@Ready4Ron) February 21, 2023
In his filing, Ready for Ron attorney Dan Backer said that the group, which has spent millions on organizing and ads to generate its list of names, is merely a “conduit” for people eager to support DeSantis.
What’s more, he said that it isn’t a “sham” effort to game the FEC rules. “RFR’s petition isn’t a sham. It isn’t a way to smuggle a mailing list to Gov. DeSantis. It is a legitimate and potentially powerful form of political expression and association, which the U.S. Constitution protects from the reach of overzealous regulatory agencies,” said Backer.
But the FEC has argued that it is just an effort to give DeSantis a valuable mailing and possible donor list for free.
“A compilation of supporter contact information, including email addresses, is a thing of value, and providing this information to Gov. DeSantis free of charge when he is testing the waters or operating a campaign would violate FECA’s limitations on contributions to candidates,” countered the FEC in its latest filing.
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Backer said he is concerned the FEC wants to drag out the case, which he hopes will quickly end with the judge issuing a preliminary injunction to lift the federal agency’s ban on sharing the petition.
He said that a decision from U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss in Washington could come fast after the next document filing set for Friday.
“He’s engaged. He’s thinking about it. He’s read the pleadings. He’s very aware of these issues. He’s really interested in the subject matter, so I think it’s going to be something he’s going to want to roll out sooner rather than later,” said Backer.
