Rep. Hultgren talks Trump, tariffs and the upcoming election

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano, listens to a question from the Northwest Herald Editorial Board on Wednesday at the newspaper's office in Crystal Lake. U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano, voiced his thoughts on taxes, President Donald Trump's "2 a.m. tweets" and the key differences between himself and opponent Lauren Underwood on Wednesday.

Trump Super-PAC Donor Accused of Breaking Law

Global Energy Producers LLC didn't exist until April. A month later, before it had a working website, it was flush with enough cash to make one of the biggest donations of the year to America First Action Inc., a super-political action committee backing President Donald Trump's agenda.

Then, If he’s Re-Elected, he’LL Savage Businesses for…

Democratic senator Bill Nelson has been avoiding common campaign expenses such as paying payroll tax and providing benefits such as health insurance by staffing his reelection effort solely through contractors, a rarely used and frowned-upon tactic. Nelson's filings with the Federal Election Commission so far this cycle contain no disbursements for payroll or salary, nor payments for payroll taxes that come along with having salaried workers.

Women reaching new levels in political donations

An unprecedented rise in female donors to political campaigns, fueled largely by opposition to President Donald Trump, continues to grow in the run-up to the 2018 elections. The number of women donating to federal candidates has surged by 182 percent when compared with this time in the 2016 cycle, according to new data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Outside groups line up to give in northeast Ohio U.S. House primary

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's decision this week to pour $300,000 into Tuesday's congressional primary to support former Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez against state Rep. Christina Hagan means that establishment Republicans are concerned enough about the race that they have now invested more than a half a million dollars to boost Gonzalez. “I think it indicates that they're worried,” said David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron.

A look at the legal issues surrounding payment to porn star

In her widely watched "60 Minutes" interview, porn star Stormy Daniels explained why she accepted a $130,000 payment she says was intended to keep her silent about her sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. Trump has denied the affair, through his representatives.

Did the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels break the law?

New revelations about a $130,000 payment to a porn star race a thicket for legal questions for President Trump, his lawyer and his campaign. Did the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels break the law? New revelations about a $130,000 payment to a porn star race a thicket for legal questions for President Trump, his lawyer and his campaign.

Ted Cruz’s Democratic rival stomps him in latest round of fundraising

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke , an El Paso Democrat, once again reported raising more money than Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in what is shaping up to be an intense general election matchup. Over the first 45 days of 2018, O'Rourke raised $2.3 million - almost three times more than Cruz's $803,000, according to new reports filed by Cruz and O'Rourke with the Federal Election Commission.

Experts: Feds unlikely to pursue alleged Trump lawyer payments to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels

A presidential candidate is accused of arranging hush money to conceal a mistress in a sensational story ripped straight from the tabloids. Six years ago, federal prosecutors put two-time Democratic presidential contender John Edwards on trial for just that and ended up failing to convict the North Carolina politician.

Mark Leggio receives fine for excessive contributions

Influential Upland businessman Mark Leggio was recently fined $6,000 by the Federal Election Commission for excessive contributions made to the campaign of a California congresswoman. The fine and order to cease and desist were detailed in an agreement reached in May between Leggio and the commission, according to FEC records.

Amid accusations, Roy Moore fighting for campaign cash

Alabama Republican Roy Moore has celebrated his isolated fight against the political establishment in both parties. The outsider story may resonate with Alabama voters, but the reality has a clear downside: The Senate candidate and his allies are almost completely cut off from the GOP's traditional donor network and struggling to raise money for the final-weeks sprint to Election Day.

After Russia’s election interference, pulling back the curtain on online ads

A man walks past voting booths at a Virginia primary election polling station in Centreville, Va., in March 2016. LAST WEEK, the Federal Election Commission took a rare unanimous vote to begin drafting regulations that would require greater transparency in online political advertising.

Trump’s politicking raises ethics red flags

On Wednesday night, he'll attend his first 2020 campaign fundraiser, rubbing elbows with some of the Republican Party's top donors on familiar turf: his own hotel down the street from the White House . He's already spent five evenings on the road at political rallies, always in states that supported him in November and always in front of an audience of thousands of fans who are screened and selected by his campaign aides.