‘Ready for Warren’ to change name

Introduction

Under pressure from federal regulators, an upstart super PAC attempting to convince Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to seek the presidency has agreed to change its name.

“Ready for Warren PAC” will amend its registration paperwork and officially become the “Ready for Warren Presidential Draft Campaign,” super PAC treasurer Erica Sagrans today told the Center for Public Integrity.

The switch comes after the Federal Election Commission demanded the group ditch its original name because only committees authorized by a federal political candidate may use the candidate’s name.

There’s an exception, however: A draft committee may refer to an active candidate in its organization’s own name “provided the committee’s name clearly indicates that it is a draft committee.”

Sagrans noted that “we’ll still call ourselves Ready for Warren in most of our communications, but we want to comply with what [the FEC] is asking, and we should be clear on what our intentions are.” She also praised FEC officials for being “incredibly helpful.”

Several other political committees that seemingly incorporate candidates’ names have effectively told the FEC to take a hike, citing free speech considerations.

And Ready for Hillary, a hybrid PAC that’s raised millions of dollars to promote a Hillary Clinton presidential bid may keep its name because Clinton isn’t a declared political candidate.

“The law … it is what it is,” Sagrans said, offering no additional comment one way or another.

As for Warren, she’s disassociated herself from any presidential draft effort and said she won’t run for the White House in 2016.