WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 29, 2026) – Today nearly a dozen Republican state legislators from throughout the country, as well as several of their Democratic colleagues, are in Washington, D.C., to urge their members of Congress to support HJR 191, the Constitutional Campaign Finance Reform Amendment, introduced in June by U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI-7). 

The multi-state delegation is organized by American Promise, which has worked for over a decade to address the role of money in politics, advocating for a constitutional amendment that would allow states and Congress to set reasonable limits on campaign spending. Twenty-five state legislatures have now passed resolutions calling on Congress to support the amendment solution, including most recently Idaho, Oklahoma, and Utah. Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, who has been vocal on the issue in the past and will join the delegation in Washington, is sponsoring a resolution in the Texas Legislature next year.

“Americans across the political spectrum support this constitutional amendment solution because out-of-control money in politics is a crisis for hard-working Americans whose concerns are ignored by the donor-dominated political system,” said Jeff Clements, co-founder and CEO of American Promise. “These state lawmakers have listened and led the way. Millions of Americans and 25 states have already taken action to move the amendment forward. We are grateful to these leaders who have come to tell Congress enough is enough: Pass the constitutional amendment we need and send it back to our states for ratification.”

Support for restoring voter and lawmaker authority on money in elections has been building among Republicans legislators and voters across the country. A Pew Research survey conducted in April found that the role of money in politics ranked as the top concern among Republican voters, above inflation and illegal immigration. Former Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA) has written about the growing Republican support for reform. And the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank based in Utah, recently published a report supporting American Promise’s amendment effort. 

“Ahead of the midterms, U.S. policymakers must ensure our elections are safe, secure, and funded exclusively by Americans,” said state Sen. Angela Paxton (R-TX). “I’m heading to Washington with legislators from both parties to deliver that message directly to Congress. Texans should decide who has a say in Texas elections, not foreign money or out-of-state special interests.”

State legislators traveling to Washington include:

• State Sen. Carl Bjerke (R-ID)
• State Rep. Brandon Mitchell (R-ID)
• State Rep. Pat Outman (R-MI)
• State Rep. Mike McFall (D-MI)
• State Rep. Chad Perkins (R-MO)
• State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-TX)
• State Rep. Jason Thompson (R-UT)
• State Rep. Cal Roberts (R-UT)
• State Sen. Mike Gierau (D-WY)
• State Rep. Andrew Byron (R-WY)

“I’m traveling to Washington to stand up for a basic principle of federalism: States should have the authority to address money in their own elections,” said Utah state Rep. Jason Thompson (R), whose Legislature in 2025 passed a resolution calling for the amendment solution. “A constitutional amendment will restore that balance and give Utah and every state the ability to decide the rules for themselves, rather than having those decisions made for them in Washington.”

“We’re making this trip together because this issue doesn’t split along party lines,” said state Sen. Mike Gierau (D-WY) and state Rep. Andrew Byron (R-WY). “Wyoming voters are tired of seeing dark money hijack their elections. Congress should pass HJR 191 and give states like ours back the power to decide the rules.”

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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.