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ARTICLE · 06 OCTOBER 2025

Ohio Bans Certain Federal PAC Contributions: How To Avoid The Risk

Ballard Spahr LLP
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Recently, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an Ohio law that bans political contributions made by lawful permanent residents.

United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Kate A. Belinski
Kate A. Belinski
Katlyn Koegel
Katlyn Koegel
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Summary

Recently, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an Ohio law that bans political contributions made by lawful permanent residents. The court found that Ohio's interest in safeguarding its elections from foreign interference outweighed the administrative burden of compliance. That burden means federal political action committees (PACs) that accept lawful contributions from permanent residents will no longer be able to participate in Ohio elections.

To ease the burden, the Ohio Secretary of State has issued new guidance on how PACs and political contributing entities (PCEs) can comply with the new law.

The Upshot

  • Federal campaign finance laws exclude "lawful permanent residents" from the definition of "foreign national," but the new Ohio law does not.

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