Letter comes as the FEC has been without quorum for nearly 10 months and Trump’s illegal firing of Democratic chair over 1 year ago

March 8, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) led six Democratic Senators in blasting President Trump for only nominating two Republicans to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) without nominating or vetting the Democratic-proposed candidate. In doing so, Trump ignored the longstanding precedent of nominating bipartisan slates to the FEC and Congress’ clear intent in ensuring an independent campaign finance regulator. In their letter to President Trump, the Senators also slammed the illegal firing of FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub, which created the current Democratic vacancy over one year ago.

In addition to firing Chair Weintraub — the first time a President has ever fired an FEC commissioner since its creation over 50 years ago — Trump has sought to interfere with the Commission’s independence through an illegal executive order targeting regulatory agencies, further undermining confidence in the nation’s campaign finance system. Following Republican retirements creating additional vacancies on the Commission, the FEC has been without quorum for nearly 10 months, hindering the regulator’s ability to vote on enforcement matters and issue guidance critical to the campaign finance system.

“Your apparent refusal to put forward a Democratic nominee for the Commission exacerbates concerns that you will interfere with the FEC as it considers open matters involving your campaign and associates,” wrote the Senators.

“While it is important that the FEC be restored to its full capacity as we approach the 2026 midterms elections, it is even more critical that it maintain its independence and stay true to its mission. We urge you to immediately begin the vetting process for the Democratic candidate and present a bipartisan slate of nominees for the Senate to consider in a timely manner,” continued the Senators.

In addition to Padilla and Schumer, the letter was also signed by Senate Rules Committee Members Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

The Federal Election Commission was established in 1975 as a bipartisan, independent regulatory agency following enactment of the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1974 in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal that exposed significant campaign finance abuses. President Trump’s two Republican nominees to the FEC are now pending before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.

Last month, Senator Padilla issued a statement condemning President Trump’s move to nominate only Republicans to the traditionally bipartisan FEC, calling it an attempt to “tilt the scales in his favor.” Last year, Padilla denounced the illegal firing of FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub and led 10 Democratic Senators to demand President Trump rescind his attempt to fire her.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with jurisdiction over the Federal Election Commission, Senator Padilla is a leader in the fight for campaign finance reform. He is a lead cosponsor of Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-N.H.) constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s misguided and destructive Citizens United v. FEC decision, which removed campaign finance restrictions and enabled organizations to spend unlimited money to influence elections. Earlier this month, Padilla joined Senator Whitehouse in introducing the DISCLOSE Act, legislation to end the scourge of dark money in our democracy, shine a bright light of transparency on politics, and make government more accountable to the will of voters. In January, Padilla joined several Democratic colleagues on the floor to mark the anniversary of the Citizens United decision and call to take back our democracy from the unlimited influence of billionaire donors.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear President Trump,

The Federal Election Commission (FEC, Commission) has been without quorum for nearly ten months and has had four seats vacant since October 2025. This prolonged lack of quorum has hindered the Commission’s ability to vote on enforcement matters and issue guidance critical to a well-functioning campaign finance system.

We write to express significant concern over the White House’s decision to nominate two Republicans to the Commission with no action around the Democratic candidate that has been submitted by the Senate Democratic Leader months ago following outreach from the White House. The decision to only nominate two Republicans to serve as commissioners ignores years of precedent in which the Senate has moved bipartisan pairs of nominees, especially when there are bipartisan vacancies, given the evenly balanced nature of the FEC.

We also understand that your Administration has not vetted the recommended candidate for the Democratic vacancy, despite the fact that your decision to illegally fire the third Democratic Commissioner – who was then serving as Chair of the FEC – created the vacant seat in the first place. The FEC was created by Congress to be independent of control by any political party, and no President has ever fired a commissioner since its creation over 50 years ago. Under these circumstances it is unacceptable that you have failed to move forward with a Democratic nominee for a seat that has been open for over a year. Since assuming office, you have repeatedly attempted to interfere with the longstanding independence of regulatory agencies, including the FEC, deliberately ignoring decades of precedent and congressional intent.

In addition to your illegal decision to fire Chair Weintraub, Executive Order 14215 sought to strip the Commission of its regulatory independence and is another escalation of your efforts to undermine our nation’s campaign finance system. Your apparent refusal to put forward a Democratic nominee for the Commission exacerbates concerns that you will interfere with the FEC as it considers open matters involving your campaign and associates. 

While it is important that the FEC be restored to its full capacity as we approach the 2026 midterms elections, it is even more critical that it maintain its independence and stay true to its mission. We urge you to immediately begin the vetting process for the Democratic candidate and present a bipartisan slate of nominees for the Senate to consider in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

Source: Senator Alex Padilla