Plurality of young people say billionaires have the most influence, and that the state of money in politics weakens their motivations to participate in democracy
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 9, 2026) — Today, American Promise, the organization working to restore the constitutional authority of Congress and state legislatures to set reasonable limits on campaign spending, and SocialSphere, a public opinion research firm specializing in Gen Z and millennial populations, released results from a recent survey of young Americans focused on their attitudes about the state of money in politics ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Key findings from the survey include:
- Young Americans across parties see a political system tilted toward money. Majorities of Democrats (67%), Republicans (54%), and Independents (50%) say members of Congress are influenced more by the people and organizations that fund their campaigns than by the people who vote for them, while 13% say members are most influenced by voters. Wealthy individuals and billionaires are the most common answer when asked who holds the most influence over decisions in Washington (38% overall), while just 4% name ordinary voters.
- Many say money in politics makes them less motivated to take part. Forty-three percent say the influence of money makes them less motivated to participate in politics, compared with 24% who say it makes them more motivated, and 20% who say it makes no difference. More broadly, 52% say that when people like them speak up, vote, organize, or contact elected officials, it makes only a little difference or none at all.
- Concern is close to universal. Eighty-three percent call money in politics a big problem (58% say a very big problem), including Democrats (95%), Republicans (83%), and Independents (78%). Just 2% say it is not a problem at all.
- Support for restoring lawmakers’ authority cuts across party lines. Seventy percent agree, and 17% disagree, that Congress and the states should be able to reasonably regulate and limit money in campaigns and elections. That includes Democrats (80%), Republicans (73%), and Independents (65%).
- Young Americans reject unlimited political spending. Fifty-five percent disagree that individuals and entities should be able to spend unlimited amounts to influence campaigns, while 68% say limits on spending would make them more confident that the government represents people like them.
- The issue impacts candidate support. Seventy percent say a candidate’s position on reducing the influence of money in politics would be important in deciding whether to vote for that candidate, including Democrats (84%), Republicans (75%), and Independents (61%). Twenty-six percent say it would be very important.
“Today’s broken campaign finance system, in which political spending has had virtually no limits, is the only one that young Americans know,” said Jeff Clements, CEO of American Promise. “It’s no wonder that young people question whether their voices matter, because they understand how today’s political system works. However, what this survey shows is that candidates who make campaign finance reform a central tenet of their campaigns can earn back the trust and remotivate the next generation.”
“Young voters see a political system where money carries more weight than their voices, and for many, that weakens their motivation to participate. Every candidate on the ballot this November should take that seriously,” said John Della Volpe, founder and CEO of SocialSphere. “If we want young people to vote, we have to show them that their voices can shape what Washington does.”
View the polling page here.
American Promise is leading the national movement for the For Our Freedom Amendment, which would restore the ability of Congress and the states to decide whether and how to address political spending. To date, 25 states have passed resolutions calling on Congress to support the amendment solution, including most recently Idaho, Oklahoma, and Utah.
The findings are drawn from a national online survey of 2,026 Americans ages 18 to 29, conducted by SocialSphere from Sept. 8–13, 2026. The approximate 95% uncertainty interval for the full online sample is ±2.2 percentage points.
About American Promise:
After a series of Supreme Court decisions, starting in the 1970s, opened the floodgates to unlimited political spending, Americans have watched money speak louder than their votes. American Promise is a cross-partisan organization working to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment, to restore the power of Congress and the states to set reasonable rules on election spending. With 25 states now signaling support, American Promise is building a national movement to put voters back at the center of our elections.
