Bernie Sanders: America’s Campaign Finance System Is “Totally Corrupt”

Senator Bernie Sanders reignited a national debate over the role of money in politics, accusing both major parties of being complicit in a “totally corrupt” campaign finance system.

Our campaign finance system is totally corrupt — impacting BOTH political parties.

If we want a government representing working families, not billionaires, we need to overturn Citizens United and move to the public funding of elections. pic.twitter.com/U3F2zvW18F

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 18, 2025

A System “Rigged” Against Voters?

Sanders’ remarks are aimed squarely at Citizens United v. FEC, the 2010 Supreme Court decision that opened the door for unlimited corporate and union spending in elections.

Critics have long argued that the ruling gave wealthy individuals and powerful interest groups an outsized voice in American democracy.

“It’s not just the Koch brothers,” Sanders said during a recent town hall in Vermont. “It’s Big Pharma, Wall Street, Silicon Valley—all of them pouring dark money into the system while working families struggle to be heard.”

In other words, it’s not just a right-wing problem. Sanders has often criticized establishment Democrats for relying on large corporate donors and super PACs, even as they claim to support reforms.

What Would Publicly Funded Elections Look Like?

As an alternative, Sanders is once again urging Congress to embrace publicly funded elections—a system that would shift campaign financing from private donors to the public.

It’s a radical idea by American standards, but not unprecedented.

Countries like Canada and Sweden already use taxpayer money to help fund political campaigns, reducing candidates’ dependence on large donors.

Under a publicly funded model:

Every eligible voter could receive a “democracy voucher” to contribute to the candidate of their choice.
Strict caps on private donations would be enforced.
Candidates would be freed from constant fundraising and better able to focus on policy.

Supporters say it’s the only way to rebuild trust in a system where money seems to matter more than votes.

Not Just Another Tweet

The timing of Sanders’ post isn’t random. Earlier this year, he launched his “Fight Oligarchy” tour, traveling the country to speak out against what he calls “the billionaire class buying our democracy.”

At events in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada, Sanders has hammered home the same message: the current system favors the rich and silences working families.

“You want to know why insulin costs $300? Look at who’s funding your representatives,” he told a crowd in Pittsburgh.

A Cross-Partisan Crisis

While Sanders is a progressive icon, his message crosses ideological lines. Polling shows that a majority of Americans—Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike believe money has too much influence in politics.

Calls to overturn Citizens United have even surfaced in some conservative circles, where there’s growing frustration over elite control of the system.

The challenge? Actually making it happen.

Overturning Citizens United would require either a constitutional amendment—a political long shot—or a future Supreme Court ruling reversing the decision. In the meantime, Sanders says, Congress should take immediate steps to:

Ban corporate PAC donations
Strengthen campaign finance disclosure laws
Implement voluntary public funding programs at the federal level

For Senator Bernie Sanders the stakes are nothing less than the survival of American democracy.

“This isn’t about one party or one election,” he said recently. “It’s about whether our government answers to working people or to the billionaires writing the checks.”

As the 2026 midterms approach and campaign spending once again reaches record highs, it’s clear Sanders doesn’t plan on letting the issue fade. Whether Congress listens is another matter entirely.

Bernie Sanders: America’s Campaign Finance System Is “Totally Corrupt”