SALARY RETURNED. SYR. “The democratic candidate for Congress in the 24th district is paying back nearly $7,000 after the Federal Elections Commission notified Dana Balter’s campaign that the money she took as a salary was a violation of campaign finance rules.”

COLLINS TARGETED. SJ. “Maine Momentum, a nonprofit group that does not have to disclose its donors, has purchased more than 4,000 advertising slots on a number of stations to air commercials aimed at educating voters or questioning the Republican senator through early January.”

NJ: WHAT REPORT SAYS. NJ105. “Two of the donors to the ‘dark money’ PAC supporting Gov. Phil Murphy’s political gave a combined $3.6 million contribution as he was pushing for a millionaire’s tax, according to separate media reports.”

TN: PROBE LAUNCH. TNN. “State officials initiated a probe Wednesday of embattled former House Speaker Glen Casada’s campaign finances.”

TN: STATE OWED. TNN. “Two Tennessee agencies that serve as watchdogs of elected officials, candidates and political organizations are owed nearly $1.9 million, according to records provided to The Tennessean.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.