Gillibrand Reintroduces Bill To Make Politicians Answer To Voters, Not Billionaire Megadonors

Gillibrand Reintroduces Bill To Make Politicians Answer To Voters, Not Billionaire Megadonors

Aug 6, 2026

Gillibrand's Bill Would Create First-Of-Its-Kind "Democracy Dollars" Voucher Program To Empower Voters To Donate To Candidates Of Their Choice, Ensuring That Campaigns Are Funded By Everyday Voters, Not Billionaires

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced landmark legislation to empower everyday American voters to participate in the campaign finance system and to reduce the influence of big money in politics. Gillibrand's Clean Elections Act would give every American citizen "Democracy Dollars" to donate to the federal candidates of their choice, so campaigns are funded by everyday voters rather than a handful of megadonors.

"When billionaires and special interests buy our elections, it's working families who pay the price - in higher costs at the grocery store, higher drug prices, and tax breaks that flow to the wealthy," said Senator Gillibrand. "Political candidates should be answering to their constituents, not special interest groups and wealthy donors. My Clean Elections Act gives every American 'Democracy Dollars' to support the candidates of their choice, so winning elections means delivering lower costs and better lives for working families, not doing favors for wealthy megadonors."

Today, a tiny group of ultra-wealthy donors dominates how campaigns are funded. As of April 2024, over 65% of the roughly $8.6 billion raised for federal campaigns had come from PACs, with $2.6 billion coming from just 100 billionaire families throughout the 2024 election cycle. . Meanwhile, only about 1% of Americans contributed more than $200 to any federal campaign. The result is a system where candidates court a small circle of wealthy donors behind closed doors, while the voters they're supposed to represent are drowned out.

Gillibrand's Clean Elections Act would help shift the balance of power back to everyday Americans by creating a "Democracy Dollars" voucher system. This system would provide every eligible U.S. citizen with $100 in "Democracy Dollars" for each federal election (House, Senate, and presidential, both primary and general, for a total of up to $600). Citizens could then donate these funds in $10 increments to candidates of their choice, making every voter a donor whose support candidates have to earn.

The Clean Elections Act is endorsed by End Citizens United, Stand Up America, and Demos.

"When Big Money floods our elections, politicians become more responsive and beholden to deep-pocketed donors instead of their constituents," said End Citizens United Action Fund President Tiffany Muller. "Elections should be decided by the strength of candidates' ideas and the trust they earn from voters, not by their ability to attract wealthy donors. Senator Gillibrand's Clean Elections Act is a practical solution that would level the playing field by giving everyday Americans a greater voice in our elections. We're grateful to Senator Gillibrand for leading this pragmatic and vital reform."

"For decades, big money in politics has drowned out the voices of everyday people in our democracy. Americans are fed up with the outsized influence of wealthy donors and want Congress to act," said Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America. "The Clean Elections Act helps level the playing field by giving every registered voter democracy dollars to support the candidates of their choice, making every voter a more powerful participant in our elections. We applaud Senator Gillibrand for championing this bold reform and urge Congress to advance the Clean Elections Act."

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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