John, America is sliding into oligarchy.

Billionaires and corporate elites like Elon Musk are pouring millions into our elections, silencing the voices of everyday people. They’re bankrolling politicians who protect their profits, weaken ethics laws to avoid accountability, and flood ballot measures with cash to rig the system in their favor.

They believe our government should be up for sale to the highest bidder. But here’s the thing: they don’t get the final say—we do.

Common Cause is fighting back in the states, where we have the power to stop them. While Washington stalls and federal agencies turn a blind eye, we are passing real reforms, blocking power grabs, and exposing dark money groups trying to buy our government.

Across the country, we’re proving that organized people can beat organized money:

• Common Cause Arizona is defending the Clean Elections Fund from pro-Big Money politicians who want to gut it. This fund ensures small-dollar donors—not billionaires—can help grassroots candidates run for office without relying on deep-pocketed special interests.

• California Common Cause is leading the charge to overturn an outdated ban on public campaign financing. Our bill would give voters the chance to repeal the ban and allow local governments to create systems that amplify small-dollar donations and reduce the influence of wealthy megadonors—giving everyday voters a stronger voice in elections.

• Colorado Common Cause just stopped a Musk-inspired scheme that would have given an unaccountable board the power to investigate and access private state data—posing a massive risk to Coloradans’ privacy and handing control of key government functions to corporate elites.

• Common Cause Florida is fighting to restore transparency and ethics laws that have been chipped away over the years. We’re working to bring accountability back and ensure the government works for the people—not powerful insiders.

• Common Cause Georgia is leading the fight to ban personal use of campaign funds, stopping politicians from turning donor money into personal slush funds for luxury travel, private club memberships, and other perks. Elected officials should work for the people they represent—not campaign donors funding their lifestyles.

• Common Cause Massachusetts is working to rein in big money influence in ballot measures by strengthening disclosure laws. Right now, super PACs and corporate special interests can spend record-breaking sums on ballot measures without voters knowing who is behind these campaigns. Our goal is to put an end to that.

• Common Cause Maryland is pushing to strengthen ethics laws for future governors, place their personal financial holdings into a certified blind trust or divest from these interests to prevent conflicts of interest, and to ensure the state’s top elected official is working for the people—not their own interests.

• Common Cause New Mexico is leading the fight to expose dark money by strengthening disclosure laws. Right now, special interests pour millions into elections while hiding their donors. It’s past time we shed light on who’s really influencing policy decisions.

• Common Cause New York is working to increase transparency and strengthen ethics laws, pushing for reforms that strengthen conflict-of-interest laws, improve Freedom of Information and open meetings laws, and ensure public officials serve the people—not wealthy lobbyists and corporations.

• Common Cause Oregon is ensuring newly passed campaign finance limits and transparency measures are fully implemented and protected from legal challenges by corporate special interests that want to keep the status quo.

• Common Cause Pennsylvania is fighting back against dark money influence, pushing legislation that would force big-money donors and corporate PACs to disclose their spending—so voters know exactly who is trying to buy their elections.

• Common Cause Texas is working to end pay-to-play politics, pushing for campaign contribution limits that would stop wealthy donors from writing six- and seven-figure checks to politicians with no restrictions.

• Common Cause Wisconsin is making sure voters are aware that billionaires and out-of-state interests are spending millions ahead of the high-stakes April 1st Supreme Court election — all in an effort to secure favorable rulings that benefit corporate power over everyday people. We’re also advocating for legislation which would require big-money donors to disclose their spending.

This is how we defend our democracy.

Not by waiting for Congress to act, but by organizing in the states—where we can pass real reforms, expose corruption, and stop billionaires and corporate special interests from rigging the system.

John, we can’t afford to sit back while billionaires tighten their grip on our country. This fight is urgent, and it’s happening right now.

Our democracy belongs to all of us, and together, we can make sure it stays that way.

In solidarity,

Elena Nunez, Senior Vice President of State Operations
and the team at Common Cause