Our Recent Public Financing Campaigns
Current Work in Small-Donor Public Financing
We want a government that’s truly of, by, and for the people. Unfortunately, today, the voices of everyday Americans aren’t being heard because big money dominates the financing of campaigns. Big money campaign donors fill the bank accounts of candidates from both parties, fund super PACs, and hire lobbyists to influence policies in ways that support industry profits over the people’s priorities. We must break the dependence on big money so that Congress can focus on the people’s priorities. We want to return our government to one that is of, by, and for the people. That’s why California Common Cause is working to implement and strengthen public financing of campaigns programs across the state.
Small-donor public financing can take many forms, but its focus is to accomplish two primary goals:
- Elected officials and city candidates can campaign without depending so much on money from outside interests, and
- Grassroots candidates with strong community ties can run for office, even if they do not have personal wealth or access to major donors.
A robust small-donor public financing system helps to make these goals a reality.