JUNE 30, 2026 — American Promise cofounder and CEO Jeff Clements issued the following statement in response to the decision by the United States Supreme Court in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission:
“Whatever one thinks of the policy result in this case, the American people lost today because once again, federal judges, not the people or their chosen representatives, have decided the rules for money in our elections. The Supreme Court should not be micromanaging the nation’s campaign finance system.
“Though this specific case raised a narrow legal question, there is something far more consequential at issue that Americans are increasingly asking: Why should the Court be deciding this question at all? Shouldn’t rules for money in politics be determined by us and our representatives, not dictated by nine judges serving lifetime appointments?
“This case is part of a long line of federal court decisions dating back to the 1970s, and until something changes, waves of lawyers will continue to bring cases to the Court to knock down anti-corruption guardrails and the American people will be left with even less say over money in politics, not because they ever voted for that, but because those choices were taken out of their hands by the Supreme Court.
“The Court continues to treat our Constitution’s principles of self-government and federalism as if they apply everywhere except for anti-corruption efforts by the states and Congress.
“But something new is happening. Across the country, Americans are responding with growing urgency. Twenty-five states, half the country, have passed bipartisan and often unanimous measures to press Congress for a constitutional amendment to restore to Americans and our elected lawmakers the authority to set reasonable guardrails on money in elections.
“Whether you agree or disagree with today’s decision as a matter of policy, it comes on the heels of new reports revealing Americans’ deep concerns, across parties, about unlimited spending in elections. In fact, we have once again rated money in politics as our country’s top problem. Americans believe the influence of money in elections threatens our elections, we reject the idea that unlimited political spending is protected speech, and we support restoring the authority to decide the rules to the people, the states, and our elected representatives.”
About American Promise:
After a series of Supreme Court decisions 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 limits on campaign spending. With 25 states already signaling support, American Promise is building a national movement to put voters back at the center of our elections. American Promise filed an amicus brief in support of neither party in NRSC v. FEC.
