Why do US elections cost so much money?

The cost of US elections is a subject of significant concern. The financial influx into these elections is largely driven by outside groups, which are not subject to stringent regulations. This allows them to spend unlimited amounts of money to propagate their preferred messages.

For instance, in the 2024 presidential and congressional election cycle, nearly $5 billion was spent by individuals, groups, and outside spenders combined. This was a fourfold increase from the $1 billion spent in the previous election cycle.

The surge in funding is not intended to cover operational costs, but rather to influence the narrative. For example, in Michigan's recent Democratic Senate primary, nearly $50 million was spent against Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate. The pro-Israeli lobby alone contributed $30 million to ensure his defeat.

The legal framework for such spending was established in the 2010 Citizens United case, where the Supreme Court ruled that limits on corporate and special interest group spending for election influence infringe on free speech. As a result, these groups can spend as much as they want to support their preferred candidates without needing to funnel the money through the candidates' campaigns.

Furthermore, the rise of Super PACs, which have unlimited spending power and can collect funds from wealthy individuals and corporations, has further exacerbated the financial imbalance. These Super PACs can spend up to $100 million from a single donor, thereby significantly swaying election outcomes.