After 13 years of Citizens United and more than $16.7 billion in 2022 midterm election spending, we need to protect the voice of the American voter and combat dark money's corrupting influence over our elections more vigorously than ever.
This week, I introduced a Constitutional Amendment in the House to overturn Citizens United and the irresponsible SCOTUS decisions that came before it.
Dark money has no place in our elections or democracy. We need to return power to people. Once and for all.
The Supreme Court’s decision in the landmark Citizens United v. FEC case ruled that corporations were people and money was free speech protected by the First Amendment. They opened the door for wealthy donors and corporations to give unlimited sums of money by creating Super PACs to spend those dark and untraceable dollars. They created an environment of limitless spending and demonizing attacks, an environment that candidate Donald Trump thrived in and exploited to win the presidency.
Dark money has weakened the voices of our people – and was even part of the corrupt dealmaking on the House floor this month, when Kevin McCarthy and his opponents agreed on special interest group spending in Republican primaries in exchange for the Speaker’s gavel.
That is not how our democracy should function. One person, one vote.
That’s why I introduced this Constitutional Amendment along with other progressive leaders. I know it’s a tall task to accomplish. But it’s the right thing to do. Together, we can work to end the stranglehold of dark money on our democracy.
I will not accept a status quo where the power of wealthy donors and corporations is magnified while the strength of voices like yours is minimized.
It’s time we close this dangerous Citizens United loophole and make it a requirement of ALL campaigns to ensure that individual Americans have the most say in our elections.