Minnesota State Wire

Carris Health employee Cindy Smith contributed a total of $250 to the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Fernando Alvarado, according to the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

There have been $1,250 total contributions made to political candidates and committees by Carris Health employees, 100 percent of which have gone to the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party causes and candidates.

Donations made to political groups or candidates must be disclosed under state law for greater transparency in elections. While Congress created the Federal Election Commission to oversee federal elections in 1974, each state is left to regulate its local elections. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, eleven states have no limits on how much can be contributed to a candidate by individual donors, while the other 39 states often limit the amount someone can contribute based on the office the candidate is running for.

Employee	Candidate	Party	Amount
Cindy Smith	Fernando Alvarado	DFL	$250
Kristi Blomme	Tim Walz	DFL	$1,000