Perennial candidate Jim Mowrer may have violated Iowa ethics laws

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Democrat running for Iowa Secretary of State operates a political action committee that is supporting his campaign, despite a state law that appears to ban the practice, filings show.

Candidate Jim Mowrer has continued to serve as treasurer of The Majority Rules, which he created after the 2016 election to seek the abolishment of the electoral college. The PAC donated $1,500 to Mowrer’s campaign in January and has paid $12,000 to a Mowrer-managed company for consulting services since he launched his campaign last August, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

The group also sent an April 5 email blast endorsing Mowrer’s campaign and those of three other candidates in Colorado, Ohio and Nevada, seeking donations to support them.

Iowa law says that candidates for state office cannot “establish, direct, or maintain a political committee.” An activist with the Republican Party of Iowa filed a formal complaint Tuesday alleging that Mowrer is breaking the law, seeking an investigation and “all appropriate sanctions and penalties” for any violations found.

Click here to continue reading AP News article by Ryan J. Foley. 

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