Our Elections are Basically Auctions by Jennifer Reed Cox

Since Citizens United(1) our elections too often go to the highest bidder. This is an ugly truth–it stinks and people really don’t want to look at it. It is why billionaires are doing really well while you and I are backsliding financially. It has thrown us into a K economy where the upslant is the financial trajectory of the top 1% while the downslope is the financial slope of the 98%. 

Billionaires buy politicians who vote for the things that benefit the uber-wealthy. 

It feels really discouraging. The money doesn’t always win, but it takes real money for a Dem candidate to compete with a R candidate. 

Right now, March 26, Randy Fine (Republican), House Representative for Florida CD 6, has $3,518,493.01 in his campaign coffers. (2)

The top fundraising Dem running for FL CD6 is Jennifer Jenkins with $353,457.74, right at $3.2 million behind Fine. Eric Yonce, Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, and Rob Cooper each have less than $3000 each. (2) They cannot begin to compete with Fine in advertising, buying signs and literature, and traveling. 

Ashley Moody, Federal Senator for Florida, has $5 million in her campaign coffers. Alex Vindman (D) has $7 million. Angie Nixon (D) has raised $353,457.74, I cannot find information for the others running as Democrats. 

It is no different for the state races and local ones. Republicans are out-raising the Democrats. 

We are all feeling a real pinch financially, but please consider sending what you can to a candidate. If you have $5, $10, whatever, give it to a candidate. 

We can fix Citizens United if we can take the House, Senate, and Presidency, but for now, we have to bid at the auction. 

1. “Citizens United” is shorthand for a landmark 2010 Supreme Court case – Citizens United v. FEC – that changed the face of campaign finance and money in politics in the United States. Citizens United overturned certain long-standing restrictions on political fundraising and spending – transforming the entire political landscape of the country. Most notably, Citizens United granted corporations, nonprofits, and unions unlimited political spending power.

   https://act.represent.us/sign/what-is-citizens-united//?source=go-ad-gen-20241212&utm_source=go&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=gen&utm_content=20241212&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22025691781&gbraid=0AAAAADhg-cCxyTEWwrm88lkXboKOXo1I0&gclid=CjwKCAjwspPOBhB9EiwATFbi5ISBWcwxQ6UCORABlxxJ9Ra2J4nKF7fkOh8N4_o2co5ECc7BwRqB1BoCqXgQAvD_BwE

2. https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6FL00723/