Citizens United Broke Democracy. We're Fighting Back.

Guest article by Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United

Fifteen years ago, the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United ruling shattered the fragile guardrails that once protected American democracy from corporate greed and billionaire influence. Since then, deep-pocketed special interests have flooded our elections with unlimited cash, turning our government into a rigged auction where power goes to the highest bidder.

The damage has been catastrophic: Billionaires wield unchecked influence in Washington, corporations write the very laws meant to regulate them, and public trust has plunged to historic lows. And last November, our political system hit a breaking point when the world’s richest man bankrolled a presidential victory—returning Donald Trump to the White House for four more years of corruption.

Now, Trump treats the presidency like a personal ATM—selling access through shady meme coin scams, accepting a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, and much more. Washington may be no stranger to backroom deals, but this is corruption striding through the front door—complete with valet parking and a red carpet for any billionaire or foreign regime willing to pay the price.

This is the America Citizens United created—and exactly why End Citizens United (ECU) was founded 10 years ago: to fight back and meet this moment head-on.

For the past decade, ECU has led the charge against the flood of dark money and corruption drowning our democracy. We’ve helped elect a new wave of reformers, exposed Republicans who break campaign finance laws, and built a movement rewriting how campaigns are run. Thanks to our “No Corporate PAC” pledge, nearly a quarter of Democrats in Congress now reject corporate PAC money—including a record 20 U.S. Senators.

In the 2018 midterm elections, ECU helped Democrats flip the House with a clear, urgent message: End the corruption. Voters responded, and Democrats delivered—passing H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping bill to rein in dark money and expand voting rights. Though Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans ultimately blocked the bill, the foundation was set.

Today, ECU stands as one of the most effective anti-corruption forces in American politics. Powered by over 1.4 million grassroots donors and more than $230 million raised, we’ve helped elect 700 reform champions nationwide. Through relentless investigations, federal complaints, and candidate support, we’re building a people-driven movement that’s pushing back against a broken system and proving real change is possible.

And we’re just getting started. As we mark our 10-year milestone, we’re doubling down in the fight against Trump’s brazen corruption and the billionaire takeover of our democracy. Joining us are two of the most respected voices in the battle against big money in politics—former FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub and former U.S. Senator Jon Tester of Montana—who will serve as ECU’s first-ever Senior Fellows. With decades of experience leading the charge against corruption, their guidance will be invaluable as we confront this administration and continue to build momentum for real change in Washington.

We’re also ramping up efforts to rally Democratic lawmakers around a bold anti-corruption message—one that, according to our extensive polling and focus group research, strongly resonates with voters in battleground congressional districts who will be key to retaking the House and stopping Trump’s dangerous agenda. That’s why ECU is significantly scaling up organizing efforts to help elect reform-minded candidates at every level of government: We’re mobilizing nationwide to reach, engage, and turn out voters ready to reclaim our democracy from the grip of powerful special interests and the lawmakers who serve them.

Citizens United unleashed a flood of dark money into our political system—but it also sparked a powerful movement. Over the past decade, ECU has shown that grassroots power can overcome corporate influence. Now, we’re building on that foundation by backing bold reformers, pushing for aggressive accountability, and making sure every voter knows this democracy belongs to them—not billionaires and the corporate elite.

To mark our 10-year milestone, ECU is out with a new video that tells the story of our founding, our mission to take on big money, and the fight ahead against corruption. If you believe in a government that works for all of us—not just the ultra-rich—join us now at www.endcitizensunited.org.

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About the author: Tiffany Muller is the President of End Citizens United, Let America Vote, and the End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund.