End Citizens United (ECU) has been at the forefront of the fight to protect our democracy, leading efforts both to elect champions on the issue and advancing reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. For the 2024 election cycle, ECU intensified its efforts, determined to deliver the votes needed for a majority in Congress and to keep democracy reform front and center for voters and candidates alike.
Heading into the 2024 election cycle, ECU launched a comprehensive and strategic electoral plan to support democracy champions throughout the country. The group was a leading force in holding vulnerable Republicans accountable, uplifting Democrats in the toughest races, mobilizing a national movement for Supreme Court reform––and ensuring that democracy reform remained a national priority.
The headlines below from the last two years speak to the success of the organization’s work.
Protecting and Running on Democracy:
- POLITICO: ECU gets back into campaign mode after legislative disappointments
- The Cook Political Report: What Does Threat to Democracy Mean To Swing Voters?
- National Journal: Outside group’s memo says touting democracy is route to Democratic wins
- The Guardian: ‘January 6 never ended’: alarm at Trump pardon pledge for Capitol insurrectionists
- Grave Injustice: Presidential “Immunity” and Creeping Authoritarianism
- Miami Student: JANUS Forum guests debate role of money in politics ahead of 2024 general election
- Courier: Muller: Cryptocurrency is One of The Most Overlooked Threats Against our Democracy [OP-ED]
- Democracy Paradox: Muller: Sam Bankman-Fried Said He Exploited the Citizens United Decision. Oh boy, Did He Ever. [OP-ED]
- Newsweek: Muller: Republicans: First, We Gut the Ethics Office, Then… [OP-ED]
- Post-Gazette: Trump’s continued talk of a ‘rigged election’ focuses attention on Pa.
- Pittsburgh Union Progress: Deluzio brings voting rights push to McKees Rocks
- NorthJersey.com: Candidates Andy Kim, Sue Altman tackle voter apathy, ‘broken’ system at Central NJ forum
- USA Today: Trump claims he has ‘nothing to do’ with Project 2025. Voters don’t buy that.
- The Progressive Magazine: How Can We Get Big Money Out of Politics?
- Manchester Ink Link: Reproductive rights and dark money opposition collide in pre-primary event
Exposing Santos’ Fraud and Corruption:
- Insider: George Santos hit with 3 new ethics complaints over his campaign spending, fundraising, and financial disclosure
- CNN: Watchdog group asks FEC to investigate embattled New York Rep. George Santos’ campaign finances
- Forbes: George Santos: Watchdog Files Legal Complaint Alleging Rep. Violated Campaign Finance Laws
- Spectrum News NY: Watchdogs urge FEC to probe Santos campaign spending for potential fraud
- Daily Beast: George Santos Raked In Cash for a Recount That Never Happened
- USA Today: FEC Complaint: New York GOP Rep. George Santos staffer posed as McCarthy aide to raise money
- American Journal News Watchdog group calls on GOP lawmakers to get rid of money they got from Rep. George Santos
Pushing for Ethics Reform at the Supreme Court:
- Democracy Paradox: Muller: Thomas Scandal is the Latest Example Of Why Court Reforms are Necessary [OP-ED]
- American Journal News: Poll shows support for independent investigations into ethics of Supreme Court justice
- Boston Globe: As Supreme Court grapples with ethical concerns, Democrats mull how to take advantage of its unpopularity
- Democracy Docket: Muller: The Legitimacy of the Supreme Court is at Stake in November [OP-ED]
- The Hill: Left-leaning advocacy coalition calls on Congress to investigate Supreme Court ethics
- Courier Newsroom: Muller: The 14-Year Making of Supreme Court Corruption [OP-ED]
- Copper Courier: Kamala Harris supports major changes to Supreme Court
- Washington Post: Analysis | Democrats revive SCOTUS overhaul ideas in wake of immunity ruling
Holding Republicans Accountable:
- NBC News: Fox Corp. and the Trump campaign hit with FEC complaints over Dominion revelations
- Hudson Valley 360: Complaint alleges Molinaro violated election campaign law
- The Washington Examiner: House Republicans ‘violated’ campaign finance law, PAC alleges
- East Hampton Star: LaLota Sued Over Campaign Contributions
- Business Insider: Lauren Boebert is being accused of illegal campaign spending and using her own leadership PAC ‘as a personal bank’
- Newsday: Ethics complaint: Rep. Nick LaLota didn’t list consulting firm clients in disclosure report
- Times Union: Molinaro returns money at center of FEC complaint
- East Hampton Star: Another Complaint Against Congressman
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: ‘Nonsense’: Sam Brown campaign responds to complaint alleging PAC misuse
- Daily Beast: Mike Johnson’s Shady Finances Are Already Coming Back to Bite Him
- Spectrum News: Ethics investigation request filed against Rep. Mike Garcia pertaining to 2020 stock trades
- The Hill: Liberal group files complaint over Montana GOP Senate candidate’s financial disclosure
- Las Vegas Sun: Group alleges GOP Senate candidate in Nevada broke campaign finance rules
- Dallas Morning News: Groups file complaint against Sen. Ted Cruz, super PAC over podcast ad money
- American Journal News: Democratic group unveils list of most corrupt 2024 candidates
- Oregon Capital Chronicle: Complaint alleges Oregon GOP congressional candidate Mike Erickson withheld financial information
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: Democratic PAC files complaint against GOP congressional candidate
- The Orange County Register: Senate candidate Steve Garvey didn’t disclose all the money he made last year, new complaint alleges
- The Gander Newsroom: Michigan leaders say Mike Rogers represents ‘everything people hate’ about politics
- LA Times: Watchdog group seeks investigation into Inland Empire Congressman Ken Calvert
- Washington Post: Democratic group files FEC complaint over Trump-Musk interview
- KTVN News 2: Grassroots organization files FEC complaint against Sam Brown campaign
- The Detroit News: Watchdog files ethics complaint over U.S. Rep. James’ late stock trade disclosure
- Coachella Valley Independent:Muller: Congress Needs to Extend the Ban on Insider Trading to Real Estate [OP-ED]
- NBC Montana: Ethics complaint filed against Zinke
- Newsday: Democrat-backed PAC files ethics complaint against Anthony D’Esposito
- Politico: Alison Esposito failed to report stock investments, disclosures show
- Times Union: Complaint alleges congressional candidate paid for parking space with campaign funds
- Gander Newsroom: Mike Rogers voted against reining in special interests. Now he’s running for US Senate.
- Ohio Capital Journal: Another wage theft lawsuit against Ohio Republican U.S. Senate nominee comes to light
- Politico: A New York medical group fills politicians’ coffers. This House Republican is helping to promote them.
- Huff Post: Welcome to the GOP’s Billionaire Primary
- Punchbowl News: End Citizens United launch anti-Sheehy ad blitz
Holding Third Party Entities Accountable:
- Democracy Paradox: Muller: Behind the Facade: The Dark Money Game of No Labels [OP-ED]
- NBC News: Democrats prepare to go to war against third-party candidates
- HuffPost: Campaign Finance Watchdogs Threaten No Labels With Lawsuit
- MSNBC: ‘No Labels’ faces pressure to release its mysterious donor list
- Associated Press: Who are No Labels’ donors? Democratic groups file complaints in an attempt to find out
- Inside Investigator: CT Dept. of Consumer Protection asked to investigate No Labels
- Augusta Free Press: Group claims No Labels is using its nonprofit status to fund dark money politics
- Florida Phoenix: What’s going on with No Labels and its nonprofit status in FL and elsewhere?
- Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Political group seeks review of No Labels’ status in Arkansas following federal complaints
- Alliance for Justice: End Citizens United to IRS: No Labels Violates Tax Law
- USA Today: Is No Labels an elaborate grift with no candidate? Their secrecy is telling.
- NBC News: FEC complaint says Cornel West broke campaign finance laws
- Boston Globe: Democratic group files FEC complaint alleging GOP operatives illegally boosted Jill Stein in New Hampshire
Uplifting Democracy Champions:
- New Jersey Globe: End Citizens United backs Kim for Senate
- Maryland Matter: National political reform group backing Alsobrooks in Senate primary
- National Journal: MICHIGAN: ECU/LAV Backs Elissa Slotkin
- Portland Press Herald: Muller: Rep. Golden’s record fighting corporate influence in politics speaks for itself [OP-ED]
- The Hill: Liberal group endorsing Gallego after backing Sinema
- New Jersey Globe: End Citizens United endorses Altman
- Open Secrets: Rep. Jason Crow reintroduces End Dark Money Act
- ABC Fox Montana: Montana Senator Tester awarded the Ethics and Transparency Trailblazer Award
- New Jersey Globe: End Citizens United launches new ad for Andy Kim
- Colorado Newsline: Muller: Colorado’s Democratic delegation leads the way in upholding our democracy [OP-ED]
- 2 News Nevada: Jacky Rosen speaks at an event for End Citizens United
- Granite Post: Exclusive: End Citizens United and Let America Vote endorse Joyce Craig for New Hampshire governor
- Blog for Arizona: Hundreds of Democrats Pack the Opening of New Tucson Headquarters
- Los Alamos Daily Post: U.S. Senators Luján, Van Hollen Reintroduce Campaign Finance Reform Bills To Bring Dramatic Necessary Change
- Yellow Sheet Report: Kelly, Ossoff Reintroduce Ban Corporate PACs Act
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