How you (yes you) can fight dark money in elections | Judd Legum
Summary
The article says spending on U.S. federal elections has grown sharply and that dark money has become a major part of the 2026 midterm cycle. It describes misleading political ads funded by outside groups and argues for limiting what billionaires and corporations can spend, while noting that past spending restrictions have often been struck down by courts.Key Facts
- Spending on U.S. federal elections rose from $3.8 billion in the 2014 midterms to $8.9 billion in 2022.
- The article says 2026 congressional election spending is on pace to exceed the 2022 record.
- The Brennan Center estimated that at least $1.3 billion in dark money had been spent in the 2026 midterms as of the previous month.
- The article says almost all spending by Super PACs is functionally dark because funds can pass through groups with vague names.
- It identifies tech billionaires, including Elon Musk and Jeff Yass, and interests in AI and cryptocurrency as sources of political spending.
- The article cites PolitiFact’s rating of a WinSenate ad about Stephen Schwarzman and Jeffrey Epstein as false.
- The article says about 60% of dark money spent in the cycle had benefited Republicans, while describing dark money as a bipartisan issue.
- It argues for limits on spending by billionaires and corporations and says earlier efforts to restrict election spending have generally been invalidated by courts.
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