Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Solomon and Rabb introduce legislation enhancing penalties for campaign finance violations

Solomon and Rabb introduce legislation enhancing penalties for campaign finance violations

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    August 21, 2026 | 12:03 PM

After a watchdog group filed a formal campaign finance complaint against political activist Scott Presler, state Rep. Jared Solomon highlighted the need to protect Pennsylvania voters with stronger penalties for campaign violations.

Solomon introduced legislation along with state Rep. Chris Rabb that would enhance penalties for any such violation.

The allegations against Presler stem from his voter registration work at Early Vote Action, where he allegedly did not disclose sources of revenue or detailed expenditures required by state campaign laws.

“The foundation for America’s election system lies right here in Pennsylvania. As elected officials, our constituents have trusted us to safeguard the security and integrity of our elections, ensuring that their votes count and their voices are heard. We must do so by being transparent and holding people accountable when they violate that trust.

“Unfortunately, there are distorted narratives, misinformation and sometimes blatant untruths being pushed into the commonwealth’s political landscape with significant financial resources that are not documented, registered or disclosed as campaign finance law requires. Pennsylvania voters should be able to walk into a voting booth, confident and informed in their chosen candidate,” Solomon said.

“There should be no out, no ‘cost of doing business’ for distorting the right of Pennsylvanians to choose their elected officials. I look forward to working with Rep. Solomon to ensure there is financial transparency in our election process, and to make clear that bad actors will not be tolerated in our political discourse,” Rabb said.

Solomon added that even when these “activists” are convicted, the penalties are so menial that they hardly serve as a deterrent and seem to be just a part of doing business.

The legislation would increase penalties for civil or criminal convictions from violating campaign finance laws and prohibit that person from holding a trusted position on any level of politics.

Solomon is a longstanding and staunch advocate of transparency and trust throughout all levels of government. He’s introduced legislation calling for transparency around dark money groups and gift bans for elected officials, promoting fairness in election ballot positions, and requiring all elected officials to resign upon conviction of any crime.