As the citizen-led movement for the 28th Amendment gains momentum across the nation, public support among elected officials is growing—including among 2020 presidential candidates. As of today, 13 former 2020 presidential candidates have signed the American Promise Candidate Pledge affirming that, if elected, they would use their office as president to support a 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics and overturn Citizens United.Â
The 28th Amendment to enable Congress and the states to set reasonable campaign limits and distinguish between corporations and people is gaining major mainstream attention. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced the amendment in the Senate with 46 co-sponsors, bringing the total number of Congressional supporters to 180. What’s more, 13 former 2020 presidential candidates signed the American Promise Candidate Pledge, showing their support for the amendment. During the second round of Democratic presidential debates, several candidates highlighted the amendment as a priority in their policy proposals.
While the president does not have an official role in passing a Constitutional amendment, the chief executive of the nation does help set the national agenda. A president calling for a 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics would build public awareness of the proposal and help pressure Congress to take action.
The American Promise Pledge Campaign is a citizen-led effort to get candidates for elected office at all levels of government to commit to use their office to advance the 28th Amendment. Since the 2018 midterm cycle, more than 250 candidates have signed the pledge. An amendment requires ⅔ of Congress and ¾ of state legislatures to be ratified, so growing awareness and support among elected officials is crucial to the amendment’s success.
Here are the 2020 presidential candidates so far who have signed the pledge, and why they say this issue is important to them, their campaigns, and our nation as a whole.
Former:
Former Gov. Bill Weld (R-MA)
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Tom Steyer
Former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
Marianne Williamson
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov. Steve Bullock (D-MT)