1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Our democracy is being hijacked by corporations and the ultra‑rich—a crisis rooted in the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. That ruling has flooded our elections with “dark money” channeled through trade associations that hide donor identities, and it has allowed the top 0.01 percent of earners to account for roughly 40 percent of campaign spending. The consequence is a political system where the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by the clout of a few. Public sentiment is crystal clear: voters of every party reject Citizens United by a nearly three‑to‑one margin, and even Republicans oppose it two‑to‑one. Over three million Americans have already signed petitions demanding change, and 16 states plus more than 600 municipalities have passed resolutions supporting a constitutional amendment. Former President Barack Obama has also voiced his backing. A constitutional amendment is the only tool that can permanently overturn Citizens United and restore the balance of power to the people. By amending the Constitution, we give Congress and the states the authority to adopt sensible, broadly supported measures that end corporate domination of our elections and curb the influence of the super‑rich. This is not a radical proposal; it reflects the will of the electorate and the long‑standing constitutional process for correcting judicial missteps. I urge you to champion the “Restore Democracy Amendment” in the House and Senate, to bring it before the states for ratification, and to make its passage a top legislative priority. The health of our republic depends on reclaiming our political system from the grip of money.