Legislation would rid American elections of dark money and excessive corporate campaign spending

Senator Reverend Warnock: “For years, I’ve proudly fought to strengthen our democracy, which is why I am proud to again join Senator Shaheen in introducing this Constitutional amendment to get dark money out of politics. Dark money is working to squeeze the voices of ordinary people out of their democracy”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and 39 Democratic and Independent Senators to reintroduce a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, which removed campaign finance restrictions and opened the door for foreign and domestic entities to spend unlimited money to influence elections.

The Democracy for All Amendment would also overturn other far-reaching decisions around campaign finance that wrongfully equated money with free speech and unfairly determined that big, wealthy corporations have the same First Amendment rights as people.

“For years, I’ve proudly fought to strengthen our democracy, which is why I am proud to again join Senator Shaheen in introducing this Constitutional amendment to get dark money out of politics,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Dark money is working to squeeze the voices of ordinary people out of their democracy. I remain committed to ensuring people have a voice in the future of their country.”

The Democracy for All Amendment would empower Congress and states to set reasonable campaign finance rules and limit corporate spending. The amendment would enshrine in the Constitution the right of the American people to regulate the raising and spending of funds in public elections and curb the concentration of political influence held by the wealthiest Americans. 

Senator Warnock was a champion of the For the People Act—a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption in our politics and make government work for the people. The landmark legislation passed the House of Representatives in 2021 but failed to receive the 60 votes necessary in the Senate. Senator Warnock has also been a longtime champion supporting voting rights efforts and defending the sacred right to vote. Since coming to the Senate, Senator Warnock has championed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, two vital pieces of voting rights legislation that expand on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and help secure voting rights for future generations.

Along with Warnock and Shaheen, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are also cosponsors of the amendment.