From Red vs. Blue to Common Sense: Fixing Money in Politics, Together
Despite deep political divisions, Americans from all walks of life share concerns about two critical issues undermining the health of our democracy: the outsized influence of money in politics and the lack of cooperation among elected leaders. These problems erode public trust, weaken the integrity of elections, and leave citizens feeling disconnected from the decisions that shape their lives.
That’s why we—two state legislators from opposite sides of the political spectrum—have joined forces to address these challenges. We believe that unchecked political spending and partisan gridlock are harming government at its most fundamental level: local communities. When outside money floods into state and local races, it drowns out the voices of everyday people and shifts the focus away from real solutions for real problems.
Take Wyoming, for example. In 1870, Louisa Swain of Laramie cast a historic vote in a municipal election—nearly 50 years before the 19th Amendment granted women nationwide the right to vote. That early commitment to civic engagement helped ensure that government remained close to the people it served. But today, that connection is under threat—not just in Wyoming, but across the country.
The flood of out-of-state money into local and state elections has reached staggering levels. During the 2024 election cycle alone, an estimated $4.6 billion was spent on state-level candidate and ballot measure campaigns—an all-time high. This surge of spending distorts the democratic process, making voters feel powerless and lawmakers increasingly beholden to national donors rather than the people they represent.
Campaigns that once centered on community needs have become battlegrounds for national special interests. Dark money pours into local races, bringing with it divisive rhetoric and shifting the focus away from education, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development—the very issues that matter most to residents.
This nationalization of local elections has become the norm, not the exception. Consider Wisconsin, where more than $100 million poured into a single state Supreme Court race this year. The motivation behind such spending wasn’t rooted in concern for Wisconsin’s judicial system; it was a proxy war waged by billionaires and Washington insiders seeking political leverage. Similar patterns are now visible in school board elections, city council races, and gubernatorial contests nationwide.
For much of American history, states had the authority to set reasonable campaign finance limits to protect the integrity of their elections. But a series of Supreme Court rulings changed that, equating political spending with free speech under the First Amendment. As a result, states were stripped of their ability to shield elections from undue outside influence.
These decisions were—and remain—deeply flawed. They elevated the voices of the wealthiest donors while drowning out ordinary voters. They also violated the principle of states’ rights, allowing national interests to override local priorities.
The solution is clear: we need a constitutional amendment that restores the power of states and local communities to regulate money in politics. Amending the Constitution is the only way to overturn damaging Supreme Court rulings, and it has historically been a tool used to strengthen democracy and expand the will of the people.
Already, 23 states—from Utah and Nevada to West Virginia and New Hampshire—have passed resolutions supporting such an amendment. This year alone, six states—including Wyoming—introduced similar measures. Polling consistently shows that more than three-quarters of Americans support restoring this authority to the people.
As lawmakers from different parties, we don’t always agree. But on this issue, there is common ground. Government functions best when it amplifies the voices of citizens, not special interests. It thrives when cooperation replaces conflict and when communities—not billionaires or outside operatives—decide their own futures.
This movement isn’t about reinventing democracy—it’s about returning to its roots. Our founding principles emphasize a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Restoring local control over campaign finance brings us back to that vision, ensuring that our political system remains accessible, responsive, and focused on the issues that truly matter to everyday Americans.
