A planned citizen referendum to reverse legislation that would make it easier to spend dark money in Arizona may be about to become twice as difficult.

A court showdown may be looming after a panel that oversees agency regulations ordered the Citizens Clean Elections Commission to repeal a set of rules regulating privately funded candidates and political committees.

After nearly six months of debate and numerous revisions, the Citizens Clean Elections Commission approved a rule change that could force some dark money organizations to disclose their contributors.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has hired two lawyers who have contributed money or campaign work for Attorney General Tom Horne to investigate claims he and his staff are using taxpayer time and resources to run his re-election campaign.

Sen. Al Melvin withdrew from the Republican primary for governor on Monday, citing the slow pace of his collection of contributions to qualify for Clean Elections funding.

The executive director of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission urged the commission to reject a request from Secretary of State Ken Bennett, a candidate for governor, that he be allowed to appear in his office’s proposed voter education ads.

Supreme Court campaign finance case could change Arizona elections

While Arizona’s higher campaign contribution limits hang in the balance, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court might achieve what the state law’s supporters seek – give people the ability to contribute more to their favorite politicians and allow candidates to raise bigger amounts from backers.

The end of matching funds precipitated record low participation in Arizona’s Clean Elections system this year, and the candidates who switched away from publicly funded campaigns fared well.

Former legislator Doug Quelland has failed to pay the thousands of dollars that he owes the state for violating campaign finance laws.

Handwriting analysts have concluded that Rep. Catherine Miranda’s signature was forged on documents she submitted to the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, and a “vast majority” of her campaign contributor signatures do not match signatures on file.