DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

D. BROCK HORNBY, District Judge.

Four Maine residents have requested a preliminary injunction ordering the State to permit them to double their contributions to an independent candidate for governor in the 2014 election. They want to be able to match the higher amounts that contributors have been allowed to give to the Democratic and Republican candidates. Maine has a $1,500 contribution ceiling per "election" and defines a primary as a separate election. Under Maine law, party candidates have a primary election before the general election; independent candidates do not. Until the date of the primary, contributors to party candidates can contribute for both elections (primary and general), i.e., up to $3,000. The party candidates can use any of this money for the general election. This year the Democratic and the Republican candidates had no opponents in their respective primary elections. The issue is whether this contribution scheme as applied in this election when there was no contested primary unconstitutionally discriminates against contributors to independent candidates.1

There is no factual dispute, the issues have been briefed thoroughly, and I heard oral argument on August 12, 2014. I conclude that the four plaintiffs who wish to increase their contributions to an independent candidate to the ceiling allowed to those who contributed to party candidates before the primary have met the standards for a preliminary injunction. Accordingly I GRANT their motion.

BACKGROUND

Maine statutes and regulations prohibit individuals from contributing more than $1,500 to a candidate for governor. 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1015(1). The $1,500 cap is per "election." Id. The statute defines the term "election" to mean "primary and general elections and referenda, whether regular or special." 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1(2). In connection with the governor's race, state regulations define it as "any primary, general or special election for Governor." 94-270 C.M.R. ch. 1, § 1(9). Party candidates must win a primary election in order to appear on the general election ballot. 21-A M.R.S.A. § 331. An independent candidate does not confront a primary. Id. § 351. Accordingly, beginning at the time the candidate declares candidacy, supporters of a party candidate can contribute twice the $1,500 limit — once for attribution to the primary and once for attribution to the general election — for a total of $3,000.2 Before the primary election date, the candidate must segregate amounts attributed to the general election and not use them until after the primary. 94-270 C.M.R. ch. 1, § 6(7)(A). Amounts attributed to the primary, however, can be used in either election.3 In contrast, contributors to an independent candidate can never give more than $1,500 to their candidate at any time.

This year, party nominees were required to gather 2,000 registered voter signatures by March 17, 2014, to get their names on the primary ballots, 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 6, 334, 335(5)(A). Only Michael Michaud did so as a Democrat; only Paul LePage did so as a Republican. Even after the signature-filing deadline of March 17, the Democratic and Republican nominees could have faced opposition in their respective primaries from a write-in candidate who submitted a declaration of candidacy by 5 p.m. on April 28, 2014. Id. §§ 338, 722-A. No one did so.4 Accordingly, after April 28, candidates Michaud and LePage could face no primary opposition.5 Nevertheless, supporters of those party candidates could continue to contribute $3,000 to their respective candidates (as they could before the April 28 deadline), while supporters of the independent candidates continued to be limited to $1,500 (as they were from the outset).6 Only after the June 10 primary were supporters of the party candidates limited to $1,500 like supporters of independent candidates.7

Independent candidates were required to gather 4,000 signatures by June 2, 2014, in order to get their names on the general election ballot. 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 6, 354(5)(B), (8-A). Eliot Cutler and Lee Schultheis both did so.

The four plaintiffs have each contributed the $1,500 maximum to independent candidate Cutler and they want to contribute more. Dec. of Amy Woodhouse ¶¶ 4, 5 (ECF No. 3-1); Dec. of Richard Toby Scott ¶¶ 4, 6 (ECF No. 3-2); Dec. of William Hastings ¶¶ 4, 6 (ECF No. 3-3); Dec. of J. Thomas Franklin ¶¶ 4, 5 (ECF No. 3-4). The Commission says that on account of Maine statutes, they may not. Oct. 18, 2013 Letter from the Maine Commission on Gov. Ethics and Election Practices to attorney representing Cutler (ECF No. 3-11). The plaintiffs say that prohibition unconstitutionally infringes their First Amendment rights of speech and association and denies them equal protection of the laws.

None of the candidates is a party in this lawsuit.

ANALYSIS

A court must consider four things in deciding whether to issue a preliminary injunction: the plaintiffs' likelihood of success on the merits; the potential for irreparable injury if the injunction does not issue; the balance of the hardships to the parties in issuing or denying the injunction; and the effect, if any, on the public interest. Corporate Technologies, Inc. v. Harnett, 731 F.3d 6, 9 (1st Cir.2013). Likelihood of success is always the most important, W Holding Co., Inc. v. AIG Ins. Co.-Puerto Rico, 748 F.3d 377, 383 (1st Cir.2014), and I turn to it first.

Likelihood of Success

Introduction

First, I summarize the relevant caselaw on the issues that the plaintiffs have raised. The fountainhead of modern election law is Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976). Although the decision has been mightily criticized over the years, the Supreme Court has not yet upset two of its major principles: limits on expenditures by candidates are unconstitutional; limits on contributions to a particular candidate will be upheld if they are appropriately designed to reduce quid pro quo corruption or the appearance of corruption. In concluding that contribution limits are constitutional, Buckley said that "contribution and expenditure limitations both implicate fundamental First Amendment interests," 424 U.S. at 23, 96 S.Ct. 612, but that limitations on a candidate's expenditures for political expression are "significantly more severe restrictions on protected freedoms of political expression and association than... limitations on financial contributions." Id. With respect to First Amendment expression:

Id. at 20-21, 96 S.Ct. 612 (emphasis added). With respect to First Amendment association:

Id. at 22, 96 S.Ct. 612. This Buckley principle — that contribution limits implicate fundamental First Amendment interests but less so than expenditure limits — continues to be the law, see, e.g., Randall v. Sorrell, 548 U.S. 230, 246-7, 126 S.Ct. 2479, 165 L.Ed.2d 482 (2006); Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 2806, 2817, 180 L.Ed.2d 664 (2011), although the Justices disagreed recently on how it applies to aggregate contributions by a donor to all candidates or committees. McCutcheon v. Federal Election Comm'n, ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 1434, 188 L.Ed.2d 468 (2014).

The contribution limits part of Buckley focused primarily on whether it was constitutional to limit contributions at all, not on discrimination among contributors. It is true that the federal statute at issue in Buckley set contribution limits that, like the Maine statute here, were per election limits, with primaries identified as separate elections. And Buckley dealt briefly with a "charge of discrimination against minor-party and independent candidates." Id. at 33, 96 S.Ct. 612. It found the charge "more troubling" than a charge of discrimination between incumbents and challengers. Id. But the Buckley plaintiffs challenged the federal statute "on its face,"8 and the Buckley Court found that the record before it did not support the charge that the statute as written "invidiously disadvantages such candidates." Id.9 Buckley did not address the statute "as applied," i.e., under a specific factual scenario, as the plaintiffs do here, with their challenge to how the contributions limits work when the Democratic and Republican primaries are uncontested.

In Daggett v. Webster, 81 F.Supp.2d 128 (D.Me.2000), I dealt with a challenge by minor party candidates to Maine's per election limits (at that time minor parties were not required to have a primary election). I said that it was only "a theoretical debate" because the record in the case showed that seldom had a contribution to a minor party candidate been made at the maximum level. Id. at 138. Applying Buckley, I said: "The separate limits are rational and supportable because primary campaigns ordinarily can be expected to require separate and additional expenditures. If actual prejudice ultimately is shown, the matter can then be revisited." Id. (emphasis added). The plaintiffs here say that the 2014 election with its uncontested primaries shows the actual prejudice on which I reserved judgment in Daggett, and that I must now confront that issue.

The First Circuit affirmed Daggett. Daggett v. Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, 205 F.3d 445 (1st Cir.2000). On this issue of distinguishing among contributors, it stated that it did "not find enough to deem the limits facially unconstitutional," id. at 461, and:

Id. (italics added; citation to Buckley omitted). In other words, the First Circuit's focus was a constitutional challenge to the Maine statute "on its face." The First Circuit did not deal with it as applied in specific circumstances. In Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. v. Federal Election Comm'n, 546 U.S. 410, 126 S.Ct. 1016, 163 L.Ed.2d 990 (2006), the Supreme Court confirmed that a statute upheld as facially constitutional still can be successfully challenged later on an as-applied basis.

Here, unlike Buckley and Daggett, the discrimination-among-contributors issue is central and is presented in the factual context of an election where the party candidates had no contested primary, and yet their contributors were able to contribute double the single election limit, while contributors to independent candidates could not. There is, moreover, a very recent Tenth Circuit decision that is relevant, although not controlling. In Riddle v. Hickenlooper, 742 F.3d 922 (10th Cir. 2014), contributors to a write-in candidate for the Colorado House of Representatives challenged a Colorado statute that set a lower contribution limit ($200) for them than it set for contributors to major party candidates who ran in uncontested primaries ($400). The Tenth Circuit found that, "as applied" to a case where each candidate was unopposed for the nomination, the Colorado statute violated the equal protection clause. Id. at 925. "[T]he statutory classification violates the right to equal protection for individuals wishing to contribute to write-ins, unaffiliated candidates, and minor-party candidates when each candidate runs unopposed for the nomination." Id. at 930. In Colorado, unlike Maine, a supporter who contributed to a party candidate after the uncontested primary was over could still contribute the double amount. In Maine, such contributors can no longer contribute the double amount after the date of the uncontested primary — this year June 10. They were able, however, to contribute the double amount at the beginning of the Michaud and LePage candidacies and even during the 45 days between the date it became certain that there would be no primary contest (this year April 28) and the primary election, June 10.

With that caselaw background, I turn to the resolution of this case. The supporters of independent candidate Cutler make two claims: that the Maine contribution limits — as they apply to supporters of independent candidates, as compared to supporters of party candidates who do not face contested primaries — violate the equal protection clause; and that they unconstitutionally infringe the First Amendment rights of contributors to independent candidates.

Equal Protection Clause

The plaintiffs' equal protection clause argument is the heart of their challenge. These contributors do not contend that Maine's campaign contribution limits are too low,10 but that the limits discriminate against those who want to contribute to independent candidates and in favor of those who support party candidates, by allowing contributors to party candidates to contribute twice, even when there is no contested primary. Thus, while First Amendment interests are at stake, it is the asserted unequal treatment among contributors that is the central issue.

Similarly Situated

The first step in an equal protection analysis is to determine whether the plaintiffs are in fact "similarly situated" to those who they claim are treated more favorably, here contributors to the Democratic and Republican candidates who faced no contested primary. These Cutler supporters say that they are similarly situated to contributors to candidates Michaud and LePage because they all are seeking to get their respective candidates elected governor. The State says that the contributors are not similarly situated because "LePage and Michaud are required to compete in two elections in 2014, whereas Cutler has chosen to run as an unenrolled candidate and therefore is competing in just one election." Defs.' Mem. In Opp. To Pls.' Mot. to Prelim. Inj. at 10 (ECF No. 18).

I conclude that the Cutler supporters are similarly situated to other contributors in the Governor's race. The test is whether they are alike "in all relevant respects." Nordlinger v. Hahn, 505 U.S. 1, 10, 112 S.Ct. 2326, 120 L.Ed.2d 1 (1992). The Cutler supporters' First Amendment interest here, as the Supreme Court has recognized in Buckley, is that of both communicating their support and associating with other like-minded persons, the same interest that Michaud and LePage contributors have. The State's rationale does not show that contributors to independent candidates are different from contributors to party candidates, but rather is an explanation of why the State treats them differently, having created a mandatory primary system for party candidates but not others. I will consider that factor below, but it does not change the fact that these plaintiffs are contributors seeking to get their candidate elected governor, just as Democratic and Republican donors are. In that respect, therefore, I agree with the Tenth Circuit in Riddle that, in determining whether contributors are similarly situated, it is important not to confuse "the contributors with their preferred candidates," and that "the equal-protection claim was asserted by the contributors, not [their candidate]. They simply want to contribute to their preferred candidate." 742 F.3d at 926. These plaintiffs and the Michaud and LePage contributors are alike "in all relevant respects."

Constitutional Standard

Since I conclude that the plaintiffs are similarly situated to contributors to the Democratic and Republican candidates, I proceed to assess under the equal protection clause the justification for how Maine treats them. Ordinarily governmental programs that classify or differentiate are constitutional if they bear a rational relationship to a legitimate government objective. Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202, 216, 102 S.Ct. 2382, 72 L.Ed.2d 786 (1982); Starlight Sugar, Inc. v. Soto, 253 F.3d 137, 145 (1st Cir.2001). When a suspect classification like race is used, or a fundamental interest like the right to vote is at stake, however, a much stronger justification is required, namely a compelling governmental interest, and a necessary relationship between the classification and that interest. Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200, 227, 115 S.Ct. 2097, 132 L.Ed.2d 158 (1995); Massachusetts v. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, 682 F.3d 1, 8-9 (1st Cir.2012).

Here, there is no suspect classification and the right to vote is not directly at stake. Instead, what is at stake is the somewhat less significant contributors' First Amendment interest as the Supreme Court described it in Buckley. In Buckley, enunciating First Amendment law, the Court said that interference with a contributor's protected rights of political association "may be sustained if the State demonstrates a sufficiently important interest and employs means closely drawn to avoid unnecessary abridgment of associational freedoms." Buckley, 424 U.S. at 25, 96 S.Ct. 612. That formulation is still the standard for any First Amendment analysis of contributors' rights. McCutcheon, 134 S.Ct. at 1444. Neither the Supreme Court nor the First Circuit has announced any different standard for dealing with First Amendment discrimination challenges, and I therefore apply it in this equal protection context.11

The State argues that its interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption or its appearance is a "sufficiently important interest" under Buckley. Indeed, that is precisely what Buckley said, but the plaintiffs here do not challenge the need for a ceiling. What the plaintiffs challenge is the difference in ceilings, $1,500 for contributors who support an independent, and $3,000 for contributors who support a Democrat or a Republican even though they have no contested primary.12 The State is unable to show any relationship between the difference in ceilings and its interest in preventing corruption, let alone show that the difference is a "means closely drawn" to avoid corruption. Even though prevention of corruption is a sufficiently important state interest, there is no suggestion that the corruption/appearance of corruption issue is more pronounced for independents than for party candidates. Riddle reached the same conclusion, that distinctions among contributors have little to do with the corruption prevention concern. 742 F.3d at 928.

The only plausible reason for having different contribution standards (other than an effort to favor party candidates over independents) is that a primary requires a party candidate to spend more money than an independent candidate who has no primary. That is not a corruption issue at all. That extra obstacle, if that is what a primary amounts to, is created by the State. The primary may require additional candidate expenditures (there is no evidence of that, only presumptions13), but it is not a reason for treating contributors differently.14 The Supreme Court has said: "We have never upheld the constitutionality of a law that imposes different contribution limits for candidates who are competing against each other." Davis v. Federal Election Comm'n, 554 U.S. 724, 738, 128 S.Ct. 2759, 171 L.Ed.2d 737 (2008). And here there was no primary contest to require candidate expenditures, certainly after April 28 (and arguably not after March 17, when only a write-in candidate could be added).15 Although the State's lawyers speculate that even an uncontested primary might require some action by the party candidates, there is no evidence of that at all.16 (And I do not address whether there is actually a higher hurdle for the independent candidate without a primary, who must find an equivalent way to achieve name recognition and public attention so as not to be late off the mark for the general election at the close of primary season.)17 I conclude that the State's treatment of contributors does not meet the Buckley standard of "means closely drawn to avoid unnecessary abridgment of associational freedoms."

First Amendment Challenge

Because I find that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail on their equal protection argument, I do not address their First Amendment challenge except to note that they do not challenge the actual contribution limits, only the differentials, and that this is not the classic First Amendment case prohibiting discrimination among speakers or viewpoints in a public forum.

Irreparable Injury

It should go without saying that if the plaintiffs are not able to contribute soon at the higher level, they will suffer irreparable injury. Timing is everything in an election. Contributing after a successful trial — unlikely to occur this year and therefore not before the election — would be fruitless.

Balance of Harms

It is difficult to see any hardship to the State in directing it to allow a uniform contribution ceiling. If I look at the State as a proxy for the interests of contributors to party candidates, their interests are equivalent to that of the plaintiffs. (In Buckley, the Supreme Court pointed out that contributors have other ways to advance their First Amendment interests, but that their First Amendment interests nevertheless are infringed and are fundamental.) I conclude that the balance of harms does not make a difference in this case.

Public Interest

There is no harm to the public interest in issuing the injunction. The higher limits, as I have reasoned, are unrelated to quid pro quo corruption or its appearance. If my decision is correct, moreover, the public interest is furthered by the injunction.

CONCLUSION

It is tempting to look at this dispute solely through the eyes of the candidates in the election for governor and to debate whether independent candidates have greater headwinds in getting public recognition of their campaigns or whether party candidates have greater headwinds because they must survive a primary. To the degree those arguments have to do with how much money a candidate must spend, the Supreme Court has said there can be no limits on expenditures. To the degree that the arguments have to do with how much money a candidate must raise, the Supreme Court has told us that the Constitution disfavors efforts to level the playing field.

In any event, I am dealing not with a candidate's claim but a contributor's claim, and a contribution dispute is different. I am deciding only the rights of individuals who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights to support their independent candidate for governor. I do not lightly find a state statute unconstitutional. But these four Maine residents have shown a strong likelihood of success on the merits of their claim that in this election they have suffered unconstitutional discrimination as compared to contributors to party candidates. I conclude that the plaintiffs have satisfied the test for a preliminary injunction.18

The Preliminary Injunction

The parties shall confer on whether there is need for an actual injunction and, if so, compose language that satisfies Fed. R.Civ.P. 65(d).19 In doing so, the defendants may preserve their substantive objections to my decision. The parties shall file that language with the court by August 29, 2014, and if they cannot agree, file their counter-proposals by that same date with the reasons for their disagreement. If the defendants contend that security is required under Rule 65(c), the parties shall address that issue on the same schedule.

Stay

At this stage, the defendants have not requested a stay of any injunction that I might issue. I would be disinclined to grant a stay. The plaintiffs' right to exercise their First Amendment rights equally with other contributors should not be delayed. And their exercise of those rights does not seriously affect the First Amendment rights of other contributors to exercise their similar rights. So I see no reason to delay the increase in the contribution limits. But of course the court of appeals may see things differently and issue a stay of its own while it deliberates on the issues if there is an appeal.

The plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction is GRANTED.

The Clerk's Office shall schedule a conference before the Magistrate Judge to resolve the scheduling of all further proceedings in this case unless there is an interlocutory appeal.

SO ORDERED.