Reforming Campaign Finance

America’s campaign finance system has gotten out of control. The outrageous price tag on running for public office has forced candidates and elected officials to spend far too much time asking megadonors — many of whom have never even been to their district — for donations. Leading up to the 2024 election, Americans watched as $16 billion dollars were spent on ads nobody wanted to watch while their own voices were drowned out. Free speech and competitive campaigns are essential to our democracy, but no election should be determined solely by who can spend the most money.

That’s the motivation behind the fifth pillar of my Blueprint for a Better America: Reforming Campaign Finance. We need a system that encourages elected officials to spend more time solving problems and serving their constituents. Included in this bucket are three pieces of legislation I believe will take real steps to finally put governing before campaigning: 

• A Constitutional Campaign Finance Reform Amendment to give Congress and state governments the explicit authority to establish stricter campaign finance rules, including limiting or prohibiting corporate spending in elections, to curb the outsized influence of money in politics and help ensure every citizen’s voice carries equal weight at the ballot box.
• The Campaign Finance Transparency Act to increase accountability in online donations through a variety of new security measures, from requiring stronger verification for online donations to requiring every single donation to be reported and more. 
• The Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act to crack down on foreign influence in U.S. elections by expanding restrictions on foreign-funded political activities and strengthening enforcement and disclosure requirements.

The American people deserve a system that rewards leadership over fundraising and puts governing before campaigning, and I’m proud to be leading the charge to make it happen. 

Click here or visit barrett.house.gov/reform to learn more about the full Blueprint for a Better America and submit your ideas.