Mutiny on FEC over longtime partisan commissioner

In an unexpected and awkward vote, two Republican commissioners on the Federal Election Commission tried to block the elevation of longtime Commissioner Ellen Weintraub to vice chairwoman, calling instead on President Joe Biden to put new blood on the panel.

Weintraub, on the FEC since 2002, 15 years past the end of her six-year term, was elected to be the vice chairwoman next year in a 4-1-1 vote. Republican Trey Trainor voted no, and Republican Allen Dickerson abstained.

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Both argued it was long past time for Weintraub to be replaced and noted that she was part of the commission’s troubled partisan past.

Dickerson said the practice should be that commissioners serve as chair and vice chair just once, no matter how long it extends past the six-year terms. For Weintraub, it will be her third time as vice chairwoman and will likely lead to her fourth time as chairwoman when yearly leadership votes come around again next December.

Dickerson favored the elevation of Democrat Shana Broussard instead. “It’s her turn,” he said. Of those pushing for Weintraub, he said, “They are making a mistake.”

Trainor ripped Biden for not nominating new commissioners to replace those who have served their six years, including Trainor.

“My vote here is in no way to be construed as a comment on Commissioner Weintraub, her abilities or her unquestioned commitment to administration here at the FEC, or her service to the American people,” he said. “Instead, my vote here today is a call for the White House to do its job and replace commissioners who, like myself, are out of term.”

The rare no votes apparently caught the outgoing chairwoman, Democrat Dara Lindenbaum, by surprise, coming after the unanimous vote to elevate Republican Commissioner Sean Cooksey to chairman next year.

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“I will just say that this is not how I had hoped that the last meeting of the year would go, usually not how this goes, and it is unfortunate that this is happening now,” she said after a friendly open meeting of the agency.

Often a polarizing figure during her 21 years, Weintraub has fought with Republicans on election policy, attacked Republicans like former President Donald Trump, and cheered Democratic candidates on her social media. Under questioning at a recent House oversight hearing, she admitted having discussions with the Biden administration about her tenure, which FEC watchers interpreted to mean that she had lobbied to remain in her seat.