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Cease and desist orders related to campaign finance matters sent to NH politicians, groups

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  Published in Business and Finance on Saturday, October 18th 2025 at 15:48 GMT by WMUR
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New Hampshire Campaign Finance Enforcement Targets Political Action Committees with Cease and Desist Orders

New Hampshire’s Attorney General's Office has issued cease and desist orders to three political action committees (PACs), alleging violations of state campaign finance law related to improper coordination with candidate campaigns. The actions, announced last week, target the Granite State Future PAC, Americans for a Strong New Hampshire, and the Coalition for Responsible Growth. These orders mark an escalation in scrutiny surrounding potential blurring of lines between independent expenditure groups and direct campaign efforts during the 2022 election cycle.

The core issue revolves around what constitutes permissible “independent” spending versus illegal coordination. New Hampshire law strictly limits communication and collaboration between PACs and candidate campaigns to maintain the appearance of independence. The Attorney General’s Office contends that evidence suggests these three PACs engaged in activities that violated this principle, effectively functioning as extensions of the campaigns they ostensibly supported.

Granite State Future PAC: Allegations of Shared Staff and Strategy

The cease and desist order issued to Granite State Future PAC focuses on allegations of significant coordination with the campaign of then-candidate for Governor Tom Wolf. According to the Attorney General’s Office, evidence indicates that staff members were shared between the PAC and the Wolf campaign, and strategic planning meetings occurred involving personnel from both entities. This included discussions about messaging, targeting voters, and allocating resources. The order specifically cites emails and other communications demonstrating a level of collaboration exceeding what is legally permissible for independent groups. [https://www.wmur.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2024/01/GraniteStateFutureCeaseDesistOrder.pdf]

The PAC, which supported Democratic candidates in 2022, has been ordered to immediately cease all communication and coordination with the Wolf campaign and any other candidate campaigns. Furthermore, it must provide detailed documentation of its expenditures and sources of funding for the period covered by the investigation. Failure to comply could result in further legal action, including civil penalties.

Americans for a Strong New Hampshire: Targeting and Messaging Concerns

The order directed at Americans for a Strong New Hampshire centers on concerns about targeted advertising and messaging strategies that mirrored those employed by Republican candidate for Governor Chris Sununu’s campaign. The Attorney General's Office alleges the PAC received detailed voter lists and targeting information directly from the Sununu campaign, allowing it to precisely target voters with messages aligned with the candidate’s platform. This level of shared data and strategic alignment is deemed a violation of independent expenditure rules. [https://www.wmur.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2024/01/AmericansForStrongNHCeaseDesistOrder.pdf]

Similar to the Granite State Future PAC, Americans for a Strong New Hampshire is now prohibited from coordinating with any candidate campaign and must provide detailed financial records. The organization’s activities were focused on supporting Republican candidates in 2022.

Coalition for Responsible Growth: Shared Mailings and Data Sharing

The Coalition for Responsible Growth faces allegations of sharing mailings and data with the campaign of then-candidate for Executive Councilor Cinde Robinson, a Democrat. The cease and desist order details instances where the PAC distributed campaign literature designed by Robinson’s campaign staff and shared voter information. [https://www.wmur.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2024/01/CoalitionForResponsibleGrowthCeaseDesistOrder.pdf]

The order mandates that the Coalition for Responsible Growth cease all coordination with Robinson’s campaign and provide comprehensive financial disclosures. The PAC primarily supported Democratic candidates in 2022.

Broader Implications & Ongoing Scrutiny

These actions represent a significant effort by New Hampshire's Attorney General to enforce campaign finance regulations, particularly as the influence of independent expenditure groups continues to grow. The cases highlight the challenges inherent in defining and policing “independence” in an era where digital communication and data sharing are commonplace. The investigations were initiated following complaints filed during and after the 2022 election cycle.

While the PACs have denied wrongdoing, arguing that their activities fell within legal boundaries, the cease and desist orders signal a clear warning to other political organizations operating in New Hampshire. The Attorney General’s Office has indicated it will continue to scrutinize campaign finance activity and pursue enforcement actions when violations are suspected. The outcomes of these cases could potentially reshape how PACs operate in the state and influence future election cycles. Legal challenges to the cease and desist orders are anticipated, setting the stage for a potential legal battle over the interpretation of New Hampshire’s campaign finance laws.

The investigations were conducted by Assistant Attorneys General Michael Hyder and Emily Mukai.