Press Releases

End Citizens United Names Sen. Martha McSally to “Big Money 20”

Jul 10, 2019

McSally has taken nearly $2 million from corporate PACs over the course of her political career

The Big Money 20 campaign will focus on defeating incumbents who represent a rigged Washington establishment that puts corporate special interests ahead of voters’ needs

In 2018, 82% of “Big Money 20” targets were defeated

Washington, DC –– End Citizens United (ECU) today named Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) to the Big Money 20, the group’s top targets to defeat in 2020. ECU’s Big Money 20 campaign is focused on defeating incumbents who benefit most from the rigged establishment by showing voters how McSally puts corporate special interest donors ahead of Arizonans.

“Martha McSally has prioritized insurance and pharmaceutical companies over Arizona families for years while she’s been in Washington,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “McSally was handed a Senate seat after Arizonans rejected her in 2018 by an establishment that knew she would be a reliable vote for Mitch McConnell and the corporate special interests in Washington. Arizonans deserve a Senator who values voters more than the size of their checkbooks, and End Citizens United and our members will work tirelessly to defeat Martha McSally.”

The Big Money 20 aims to educate voters about incumbents who represent the worst of Washington and rally support for reforming the political system. The members of the Big Money 20 are incumbents who take money from corporate special interests, mega-donors, and industries like Big Pharma and Big Oil and then put those interests ahead of their constituents.

McSally has received tens of thousands of dollars in corporate PAC money from big health insurance and pharmaceutical companies over the course of her career and led Republican efforts to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and gut coverage for millions of Americans. McSally voted for the Republican tax plan, which gave billions of dollars in tax breaks to Wall Street, big pharmaceutical companies, and other special interests. While the bill built up the wealthy, it hurt the middle class and is expected to blow a hole in the deficit. During her failed 2018 Senate bid, McSally repeatedly broke campaign finance laws and failed to follow disclosure rules.

In the 2018 cycle, End Citizens United helped defeat 82% of the Big Money 20 targets. ECU will connect its more than 550,000 members to endorsed candidates who are challenging Big Money 20 targets.

ECU has conducted extensive polling and research showing that voters across the political spectrum support getting big money out of politics. ECU is a traditional political action committee (PAC) with more than four million members, including 81,000 in Arizona. ECU raised $44 million in the 2018 last cycle and helped elect over 150 members to the 116th Congress, including two new U.S. Senators and 58 new U.S. Representatives. The reform group is entirely grassroots-funded with an average donation of just $14.

For a full list and additional background on the Big Money 20, click here

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