Senator Sanders urges Democrats to ban super PACs from primary contests

Senator Bernie Sanders sent a private letter to Democratic leadership, arguing that super PACs create a corrupt primary system. Citing more than $517 million raised by such groups in the current midterm cycle, he highlighted cases where outside money heavily influenced races, including a Michigan Senate contest that attracted over $50 million from external donors. Sanders criticized the tendency of Republican-aligned interests to spend tens of millions to pick Democratic nominees and then back Republican candidates in the general election.

He urged the party to adopt a rule that would prohibit super PACs from taking part in primaries and advocated for a constitutional amendment to repeal the 2010 Citizens United decision, alongside legislation for public election funding. The appeal was directed to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and another Democratic figure, emphasizing that Republican special interests should have no role in determining Democratic nominees.