SUPER PAC HIRE. POL. “The pro-veterans super PAC backing Pete Buttigieg hired one of his campaign fundraisers as it threw in for his 2020 campaign, forging a link between the campaign and the outside group that has spent millions of dollars boosting Buttigieg.”

DEBLASIO UPDATE. POL. “The de Blasio campaign’s political directors in Iowa and South Carolina were among those also getting checks from the PACs.”

DONORS CAN’T GIVE. USAT. “Many people may choose not to give their money to a multibillionaire who is ready and willing to fund his campaign. But I want to contribute — to have a horse in the race.”

SUPER PAC UP. POL. “Faith and Power PAC, a super PAC that formed earlier this year, has spent nearly $3 million boosting state Sen. Erica Smith, who is running in the primary against Cal Cunningham, a veteran and former state senator backed by the Senate Democrats’ official campaign arm.”

LAST WEEK AT THE FEC. The agency’s latest weekly digest is here.

FL: REFUND MADE. TBT. “In September, the reelection campaign of Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis took a check for $1,000 from the Rick Mathews Buick GMC dealership. And then on Christmas Eve, it took another $1,000, which is not allowed under Florida election rules.”

WA: ALLEGED VIOLATIONS. ST. “Tim Eyman has been in violation of Washington campaign finance laws for at least the last seven years, concealing nearly $800,000 in political contributions, a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled Friday.”

WI: ELECTION IMPACT. MAD. “Despite having been active in Wisconsin since at least 2011, the group has largely managed to fly under the radar and avoid any real scrutiny thanks in part to its innocuous sounding name.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.