Who saw this coming?
In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna and Republican Representative Matt Gaetz came together to propose a significant reform to reduce the influence of money in politics. On Friday, Khanna, a California Democrat with a long history of advocating for campaign finance reform, suggested that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) ban donations from super PACs and corporate PACs. Gaetz, a Florida Republican, quickly agreed, calling for similar changes across both political parties.
Khanna took to social media to express his stance, emphasizing that a future DNC chair should commit to banning corporate PAC contributions and super PAC money in Democratic primaries. He argued that this was an essential first step to ensure that the party truly represents working and middle-class Americans, rather than corporate interests. Gaetz, no stranger to criticizing his own party’s ties to big-money donors, voiced his support, suggesting that both parties should adopt this policy.
While Khanna and Gaetz often find themselves on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, their shared opposition to the growing influence of money in politics speaks to a broader concern across the political landscape. Khanna, for example, has refused PAC contributions throughout his career and has been a vocal proponent of campaign finance reform. In 2022, he reintroduced the “No PAC Act,” legislation aimed at banning PAC donations to congressional candidates and eliminating leadership PACs, which are often used to funnel large sums from special interest groups.
Similarly, Gaetz has frequently rejected major political donations, preferring to rely on small contributions from everyday Americans. In the first quarter of 2023, more than 70% of Gaetz’s fundraising came from donations of less than $200.
This growing bipartisan consensus on the need for reform comes as public scrutiny of campaign finance intensifies. According to OpenSecrets, super PACs had raised a staggering $4.29 billion in total receipts by mid-November 2024, with nearly $2.7 billion spent on independent expenditures. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency sector has set a record by raising more than $102 million for super PACs supporting political candidates. This surge in spending, combined with the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, which ruled that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts on independent political efforts, highlights the overwhelming power of money in modern elections.
While Khanna and Gaetz’s alignment on this issue is promising, the path to meaningful reform remains challenging. Overturning Citizens United and enacting laws to curb the influence of corporate money would require a concerted effort from both parties, along with the political will to take on powerful special interest groups. Until then, the debate over the role of money in politics will continue to shape elections and public trust in government.