1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to ask that you make getting big money out of our politics your top priority in the next Congress. I don’t say that lightly. I care about climate change, income inequality, and our budget deficits. But none of them can be seriously addressed while a tiny number of ultra-wealthy donors can buy influence over who gets elected and what they do once in office. The scale is hard to ignore. Super PAC and other outside group spending hit a record $2 billion through September, a 51 percent increase over the last midterm cycle after adjusting for inflation. One analysis found that 172 billionaire families have spent more than $1.7 billion on the 2026 elections. Elon Musk spent $290 million helping Trump and Republicans win in 2024 and is doing it again along with threats this cycle. What worries me most is what this does to accountability. When Democrats talked about oversight investigations of Mr. Musk, he replied on X with “live by the sword, die by the sword.” Whatever one thinks of those investigations, no private citizen should hold that kind of financial leverage over the people charged with overseeing him. It tells every member of Congress what crossing the very rich might cost them. That is how an oligarchy works, and it is not how a democracy is supposed to. This problem is not confined to one party. Both parties take big checks, and the system rewards that. It also explains why popular policies stall. Voters want lower costs, a fair tax system, and a livable climate, but the people funding campaigns want something different, and they are far better organized and funded than the rest of us. As the new Congress and, I hope, a new administration take shape, I urge you to: Support a constitutional amendment or other legislation to reverse the effects of Citizens United and allow limits on political spending. Pass strong disclosure requirements, such as the DISCLOSE Act, so dark money and shell groups can’t hide their donors. Back small-donor matching or public financing so candidates can compete without relying on billionaires. Close the coordination loopholes that let super PACs act as arms of campaigns and presidents. Commit publicly to refusing super PAC support and to making campaign finance reform a priority in the next session. I will be weighing this issue heavily in how I evaluate you and in who I support for president in 2028. I would appreciate a reply telling me where you stand and what you plan to do.