Press Association/Pablo Martinez Monsivais. All rights reserved.Throughout his campaign, 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has focused on the notion that the US political system is “rigged by big donors.” In fact, this was one of Trump’s main points of attack against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. “Follow the money,” Trump repeatedly ordered American voters. But one look at the scope of super PAC influence during the 2016 election illustrates a picture very different from the one Trump painted.
The president-elect has a valid point on the undue influence of large donations on the democratic election process. Since the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations and labour unions – and later, individuals – to spend unlimited sums of money on elections as long as they are independent from the candidates, the ensuing super PACs and the influence of the megadonors behind them have become a cornerstone of election fundraising.
Super PACs spent over $1.1 billion during this election cycle.
