Money & Politics News

Qualified Candidates Who Won't Be Sworn In Next Week Because Of Big Money In Politics

WASHINGTON, DC—Many qualified, credible candidates for federal office lose elections, drop out of races, or decide never to run in the first place because of the role of big money in our political system, according to a new report released today by U.S. PIRG.

As members of the 108th Congress prepare to be sworn in next week, U.S. PIRG released Look Who's Not Coming to Washington, an analysis of the role of money in the 2002 congressional elections. The report profiles nearly 50 candidates who were locked out of contention for House or Senate seats due to fundraising or spending disparities.

"Nearly half of newly elected members of the 108th Congress are millionaires," said U.S. PIRG Democracy Advocate Adam Lioz, the author of the report. "This report examines the flip side of that coin-all of the average Americans who were shut out of the process by big money."

The report's major findings include:

• Campaign fundraising continues to increase at a rate greater than inflation.
• 93.4 percent of 2002 general election candidates for Congress who spent the most money won their races.
• 83 percent of itemized individual contributions to candidates, parties and PACs (hard and soft money) were made by donors who contributed at least $1,000 in aggregate, according to Center for Responsive Politics.
• 0.11 percent of the voting age population of the United States made a contribution of $1,000 or more, according to Center for Responsive Politics.

"Unfortunately," concluded Lioz, "we might as well hang a sign on the U.S. Capitol that says only the rich-or those that will serve them-need apply. Not many ordinary Americans are willing to put their hats in the ring anymore."

U.S. PIRG is the national lobby office for the state Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations.

Quotes from candidates profiled in Look Who's Not Coming to Washington:

"We've established a system that is fueled by who can afford to run and fueled by money. If you don't have money or can't raise large sums of money, you can't run for federal office and increasingly you can't run for any office." Robin Britt, former North Carolina Congressman (page 31)

"The lesson I've learned out of this is that we've ended up with a process that is not healthy for democracy…The only people who can consider running in our current system are people who are independently wealthy or partners in a business that will underwrite them or the front for some special interest group. You shrink your pool of available candidates to a very small group of people." Michael Armour, former College President (page 36)

"Democracy is in crisis in the United States…These aren't elections, they're resource contests where you scare people off so you don't have to run a campaign." Bart Haggin, Chair of Washington Conservation Voters (page 40)

"Most of our congressional seats are up for sale to the highest bidder…You've got to say and do the right thing to get money." Tommy Robinson, former Arkansas Congressman (page 13)

"When candidates get big money from one percent of donors, they are obligated to consider the donors' point of view more than the voters point of view…Voters are turned off by big money candidates and people who will fight for the common person don't have the money to get their message out." Peter Mathews, College Professor (page 13)

"It is impossible to do grassroots campaigns that have any chance of being effective against well-funded campaigns." Jim Patterson, former Mayor of Fresno (page 14)

"I was walking down the street in my hometown of Middletown and another African-American came up to me and said 'I heard you speak, I want to help you, dives into her purse and pulled out $2 in change. She believed in me enough to want to give me that money, but she didn't understand that even if everyone in town gave me $2 in change, that's not going to get you there." Gary Collins, Attorney (page 15)

"I thought if you had the energy to get out and be among the people and do grassroots campaigning that you could compensate for the lack of money. But you still have to hit that floor amount of money…We're rapidly approaching the point where only wealthy people will be in office." Ben Allen, Georgia State Legislator (page 17)