1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and establish public funding of elections. The recent $10 million donation from Elon Musk to Nate Morris, a candidate for the Kentucky Senate seat, represents the largest contribution Musk has ever made to a Senate candidate and demonstrates how billionaires are distorting our democratic process. Musk spent over $250 million in 2024 alone to influence federal elections, and he has signaled his intention to spend heavily in the 2026 midterms. This level of spending by a single individual raises fundamental questions about whether we still have a functioning democracy or simply a system where the wealthiest people can buy the outcomes they prefer. The concentration of wealth has reached unprecedented levels. According to a recent Oxfam report, billionaire wealth hit a record $18.3 trillion in 2024, rising by $2.5 trillion in just one year. There are now over 3,000 billionaires worldwide. When individuals with this level of resources can spend unlimited amounts on elections, ordinary constituents lose their voice in the political process. As Senator Bernie Sanders stated in response to Musk's donation, billionaires cannot be allowed to buy elections. The solution requires ending the Citizens United decision that opened the floodgates to unlimited political spending and moving toward public funding of elections that gives every candidate a fair chance to compete based on their ideas rather than their access to billionaire donors. I urge you to cosponsor legislation for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and to support public financing of campaigns. Our democracy depends on ensuring that every voice counts equally, not just those with the deepest pockets.