Cite as: 589 U. S. ____ (2019)
1
Statement of GINSBURG, J.
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
DAVID THOMPSON, ET AL., v. HEATHER HEBDON,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALASKA
PUBLIC OFFICES COMMISSION, ET AL.
ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED
STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
No. 19–122.
Decided November 25, 2019
Statement of JUSTICE GINSBURG.
I do not oppose a remand to take account of Randall v.
Sorrell, 548 U. S. 230 (2006). I note, however, that Alaska’s
law does not exhibit certain features found troublesome in
Vermont’s law. For example, unlike in Vermont, political
parties in Alaska are subject to much more lenient contribution limits than individual donors.
Alaska Stat.
§15.13.070(d) (2018); see Randall, 548 U. S., at 256–259.
Moreover, Alaska has the second smallest legislature in the
country and derives approximately 90 percent of its revenues from one economic sector—the oil and gas industry.
As the District Court suggested, these characteristics make
Alaska “highly, if not uniquely, vulnerable to corruption in
politics and government.” Thompson v. Dauphinais, 217
F. Supp. 3d 1023, 1029 (Alaska 2016). “[S]pecial justification” of this order may warrant Alaska’s low individual contribution limit. See Randall, 548 U. S., at 261.