Money in politics mostly affirms politicians’ existing beliefs and voter preferences and efforts to restrict it often end up empowering outside groups. | Getty Images
Jul 22, 2026
At the risk of turning myself into a pariah, I don’t think money in politics is a problem.
Voters on the right and left don’t seem to agree on much these days. But they tend to share the belief — it’s an article of faith, really — that campaign donations, especially corporate cash, are a corrupting force in American politics. Simply put, voters tend to believe politicians would do the “right thing” (whatever that is) if not for money and its influence on their positions on issues big and small.
That view is misguided. It’s the result of a fundamental misunderstanding of the political gravity governing the flow of campaign contributions and the strict limits on donations imposed by federal law. Let’s start with the law. (Full disclosure: My wife is a Republican fundraiser.)
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