The totals haven’t been tallied yet, but the 2024 presidential election was expected to be the costliest ever, with at least $15.9 billion in spending, according to political finance data site Open Secrets. Outside groups, largely political action committees, have spent roughly $2.6 billion on 2024 federal elections, outpacing spending in any previous cycle.
“If you watch our elections and the amount of money that’s been going into them, it just keeps going up and up,” said Leila Blodgett of Marblehead. “What was our democracy and ‘everybody’s voice counts’ doesn’t exist anymore. Whoever has the most money wins.”
Blodgett is fed up watching billions of dollars pour into America’s political system. She joined the board of directors at American Promise, a nonprofit that is promoting the For Our Freedom Constitutional amendment to allow “reasonable limits on political spending, ensuring every American voice counts.”
Blodgett says Supreme Court decisions, including Citizens United, have opened the floodgates to “the development of super PACs and foreign money and dark money” that influence elections. Just 1% of donors contributed 93% of super PAC donations in recent election cycles, according to American Promise.
“Imagine if this keeps escalating,” Blodgett said. “There will be 30 billionaires running the country. It does not seem to be slowing down. And so much of that money is used in negative advertising, which everybody hates.”
American Promise, based in Concord, hosts meetings in communities around the country.
“My husband, Fred, and I just became very intrigued and began to see how important it is,” Blodgett said. “This issue sits on top of all the other issues that we care about — the environment, gun laws, abortion laws. It feels like money is swaying the interests. So if your interests don’t align with the money, you’re S-O-L (s–t out of luck).”
To pass, a Constitutional amendment needs a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate and then ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures. So far, 22 states, including Massachusetts, have passed resolutions supporting the For Our Freedom amendment, indicating that they’ll ratify if Congress sends it to them, according to American Promise.
“Our goal is to pass out of Congress, and out to the states for ratification, in the next few years,” Blodgett said.
American Promise released a survey last week that shows most Americans oppose excessive campaign spending.
“A staggering 82% of respondents agreed that money in politics is a serious threat to our democracy,” the group wrote in an email. “We also found that 77% of voters support our plan to amend the Constitution.”
Congressman Seth Moulton, who represents Marblehead, is on board.
“Our political process is distorted by big money,” he said. “And when those with massive amounts of wealth, like Elon Musk, can use that wealth to influence elections and government policy — pushing aside the voice of everyday Americans — we no longer have a truly representative government.”
Moulton continued, “I’m supportive of the efforts by American Promise to push for reform in a bipartisan way. We all know that it’s time for change. Allowing Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on campaign spending is a common-sense approach to a dire problem.”
State Rep. Jenny Armini and Sen. Brendan Crighton, who both represent Marblehead, support the idea of an amendment to allow states to limit political fundraising.
“Unlimited, unchecked and unreported money pollutes our political system. A Constitutional amendment is worth considering,” Armini said.
American Promise leaders are encouraging voters to sign a pledge that reads, “I join the overwhelming majority of Americans to demand an amendment to the United States Constitution to end the domination of big money in politics and give voice to all Americans.”
It is also looking for donations to support the campaign. For more information, visit americanpromise.net.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
