Election reform is needed to strengthen democracy in the United States. With the Supreme Court’s conservative majority certain to overturn any congressional action to ban Citizens United, waiting for legislation to curb the flood of special-interest money in elections is unlikely.
However, this political reality doesn’t stop the Democratic Party from doing something about super PAC money in their primary elections.
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AIPAC’s flood of cash to attempt to beat Abdul El-Sayed is the latest, but not the only example of super PACs trying to sway elections.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sent a letter to House Minority Leader Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Schumer, and DNC Chair Ken Martin calling on the party to ban super PAC donations.
Sanders wrote:
As you know, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also known as AIPAC, recently spent more than $30 million in the Michigan Democratic primary to try to defeat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
It is now being reported that AIPAC plans to spend tens of millions more to support Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.
AIPAC is not the only super PAC or outside organization playing this role. Corporate super PACs — including crypto, AI and online betting special interests — have already spent a record $517 million this election cycle, shattering the record set in 2024.
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What is particularly obscene is not only the outrageous amount of money coming into Democratic primaries from billionaire-funded super PACs, but the reality that these special interests have no particular desire to see Democrats win.
It is absurd that they spend tens of millions of dollars to try to determine who the Democratic nominee is and, if they fail, then proceed to support the Republican candidate in the general election.
That is not democracy. That is not what Democratic voters want.
Sarah Jones talks about Democratic voters rejecting corporate Democrats in the video below.
Clearly, as a nation, we must pass a constitutional amendment to repeal Citizens United. We must also pass legislation to move toward the public funding of elections.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT.
Right now, the Democratic Party has the power to prohibit super PACs from participating in its primaries. That can be done. That must be done.
I urge you to take action and make clear that the Democratic Party will no longer maintain this corrupt system.
While there are ideological differences of opinion within the big tent of the party, I would hope that we can all agree that Republican special interests should not play a role in determining the outcome of Democratic primaries.
The time to act is now.
Sen. Sanders is correct. Democratic primary voters are showing in races across the country that they don’t want general election candidates that are owned by super PAC money.
Democratic primaries should belong to Democratic voters and be free of special interest influence. The Democratic Party could fix this issue today and get special interest money out of the primaries.
Do you agree with Bernie Sanders? Share your opinion in the comments below.