Ahead of the Democratic National Committee’s annual Winter Meeting in Philadelphia, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday called on the party to end super PAC spending in primary races, saying the Democrats should take the event as an opportunity to show their commitment to protecting democracy.
Twelve years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Vermont Independent senator wrote, the last election cycle illustrated how the “disastrous” decision is “undermining American democracy,” as super PACs spent roughly $1.3 billion on campaigning—including more than $460 million spent by Democratic groups.
Millions of dollars were spent by billionaires “against progressive candidates in competitive primaries,” Sanders wrote, with super PACs funding “outrageous and dishonest attack ads.”
“When we talk about billionaires buying elections, this is exactly what we are talking about.”
Notably, a super PAC created by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent millions of dollars in competitive races in North Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania last year, running attack ads against progressives who are critical of the United States’ support for Israel’s violent anti-Palestinian policies. One ad accused Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) of being disloyal to the Democratic Party.
“When we talk about billionaires buying elections, this is exactly what we are talking about,” wrote Sanders, who caucuses with Senate Democrats.
The 2010 Citizens United ruling allowed corporations and special interest groups to create super PACs, which can accept unlimited donations and spend unlimited money on campaigns. The ruling has been condemned for years by Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who earlier this month introduced legislation to overturn Citizens United.
The party could make clear that it opposes the corporate takeover of campaigning by banning super PAC spending in its primaries, said Sanders, noting that the issue was not permitted to come up for a vote at last year’s DNC meeting when he proposed it there.
“Virtually all Democrats talk about the need for campaign finance reform,” wrote Sanders. “Talk is easy. Now it’s time to walk the walk. Let’s stand up for democracy.”
