## Trump’s Dark Money and Campaign Finance Loopholes Helping His Criminal Cases
In the world of politics, a lot of money is spent on campaigns, and this spending has significantly increased over the years. Back in **2000**, **presidential races** spent **$2.4 billion**. By **2020**, this number rose dramatically to **$6.5 billion**. These staggering amounts do not even include the money raised by special groups like candidate-affiliated PACs or joint-fundraising committees.
### Campaign Fundraising Stats
- **Joe Biden:** Raised nearly **$190 million** by May 2024.
- **Donald Trump:** Raised slightly over **$120 million** during the same period.
According to **Open Secrets**, which tracks money in politics:
- Biden’s total fundraising is **$306 million** when including other sources.
- Trump’s total is around **$244 million**.
## The Growth of Political Spending
Political spending on federal elections has ballooned over the years:
- In **2000**, congressional races spent a combined **$2.9 billion**.
- By **2020**, this amount grew to **$9.9 billion**.
- The **2022 midterms** were the most expensive in history, costing over **$16.7 billion**.
### Citizens United Decision Impact
A major change happened in **2010** with the **Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission** ruling by the **Supreme Court**:
- This decision allowed for the creation of **super PACs**, organizations that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money.
- Super PAC spending rose significantly:
- **$63 million** in 2010 to influence federal elections.
- **$822 million** in 2018.
- **$1.3 billion** in 2022.
## Political Donations from Out-of-State
Many campaign donations come from out-of-state contributors:
- In the **2022 midterms**, nearly **two-thirds** of donations to **U.S. Senate candidates** came from outside their home states.
- House campaigns also saw an increase in outside money from **36.8%** in 2018 to **43.5%** in 2022.
## Influence of Big Donors
In today’s political landscape:
- The **100 largest donors** in the U.S. spend **60% more** than small donors.
- Before the Citizens United decision, small donors outspent the largest donors by a 3-to-1 margin.
### The Role of Big Money in Politics
Massive spending on television ads and digital campaigns often uses highly targeted and manipulative methods:
- Ads sometimes portray candidates in a negative light with dramatic effects.
- During the **2022 midterm elections**, there were misleading ads about issues like defunding the police and abortion.
### Lies and Misleading Information
Each party has used deceptive tactics:
- **Republicans** misrepresented **Democratic** candidates’ positions on police funding.
- **Democrats** used half-truths about **Republican** candidates' strict anti-abortion stances.
## Potential Political Reforms
To achieve **free and fair elections** without excessive financial influence, several reforms are necessary:
- Abolishing the **Electoral College**.
- Changing the constitutional amendment process.
- Expanding the number of **Supreme Court Justices** and setting term limits.
- Overturning the **Citizens United** decision.
- Passing laws for publicly-funded elections limited to 90 days.
### Global Comparison
In many countries, elections last between two weeks and five months:
- In the U.S., campaigns can last from 12 to 18 months, often longer, like Trump announcing his 2024 candidacy in November 2022.
## Trump's Legal and Campaign Strategies
**Donald Trump** announced his candidacy early to possibly ward off criminal indictments. Despite being convicted on 34 felony counts, he claims these legal actions are politically motivated. Trump’s supporters believe in these narratives, causing further division.
### Campaign Finance Laws and Trump
Current campaign finance laws allow Trump to fund his legal defenses with an estimated **$100 million** raised:
- Without these funds, he might have had to deal with his criminal charges differently.
## Facing Potential Outcomes
The 2024 election places Americans at a crossroads:
- **Re-electing Biden** continues a polarized democracy but maintains some semblance of liberal democratic norms.
- **Electing Trump** could lead to a more authoritarian government, making the U.S. similar to nations like **Russia** or **Hungary**.
### Conclusion
Effective reforms are needed to ensure that political accountability is maintained and that excessive influence of big money is curbed. Housewife or not, understanding these dynamics is crucial as every vote counts in shaping the future of democracy in the United States.
