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As we peer into the political kaleidoscope, the machinations to define the rules surrounding the 2028 Democratic presidential primary are already in motion—a clear indication that, in political terms, it’s never too early to plan for the future, especially if the Democrats manage to reclaim a portion of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
If such a scenario unfolds, the former President Donald Trump may find himself floundering in a lame-duck status, while the political spotlight shifts swiftly to the 2028 election cycle. Drawing from historical patterns, we can expect the inaugural Democratic primary debate to take place by summer 2027, with the first contests kicking off early in 2028.
Seizing the moment, Senator Bernie Sanders, alongside a cadre of progressive Senate colleagues, is not idling. They have reached out to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and DNC Chair Ken Martin with a clarion call for reform.
“We cannot allow billionaires and powerful corporate interests to continue undermining democracy by injecting unlimited amounts of money into the political process,” they cautioned in a letter.
“The Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has proven disastrous for our democracy. As Senator Schumer aptly noted, ‘Overturning Citizens United is probably more important than any other single thing we could do to preserve this great and grand democracy.’” DNC Chair Martin echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for actionable solutions to curtail the influence of dark money in Democratic primaries.
“We support comprehensive campaign finance reform aimed at eliminating the corrosive influence of money in our elections, including the reversal of Citizens United,” they stated, emphasizing the urgency for immediate action to limit billionaire super PACs and dark money in the primaries.
In recent cycles, right-wing billionaires have poured substantial sums into super PACs that exert undue influence in Democratic primaries, with similar groups often backing general election campaigns aimed at defeating Democratic candidates. This trend has resulted in the loss of numerous commendable representatives in Congress—an outcome that is simply intolerable.
Yet, reform is not just an abstract ideal. The Arizona Democratic Party has taken proactive steps by adopting a resolution designed to prevent super PAC money from influencing primaries, committing to ensure that candidates are not reliant on outside spending.
“We urge our national Democratic Party to adopt similar measures. Before we can genuinely advocate for campaign finance reform, we must first eliminate the control of super PACs over our primaries,” the senators asserted, illustrating the public’s discontent with a political system that enables figures like Elon Musk to spend extravagant amounts to influence elections.
“If we are to be taken seriously in our opposition to Citizens United, we must start by cleaning our own house. It is imperative to ban super PAC and dark money from Democratic primaries,” they concluded, praising Arizona for its progressive stance.
The senators who signed this letter represent some of the most forward-thinking members of Congress, and their arguments are both sound and compelling.
Indeed, the Democratic Party has the capability to prohibit super PACs from its primaries, particularly when observing how the Republican primary landscape has transformed under their influence. In the 2024 Republican primaries, much of the financial backing flowed through super PACs, overshadowing official campaigns.
However, the Democrats’ credibility on campaign finance reform hinges on their willingness to cleanse their own electoral processes. Even with complete control over the federal government, any legislation banning Citizens United would likely face challenges from a conservative Supreme Court that has been systematically dismantling campaign finance regulations for decades.
The reality is that, while the chances of a federal ban surviving judicial scrutiny are slim, Democrats can control their own presidential nominating processes. It is essential that they take decisive action to eliminate the influence of super PACs in their primaries.
What do you think about the senators’ letter to the DNC? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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