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January 21st, 2026

End Citizens United Statement on 16th Anniversary of Citizens United

End Citizens United (ECU) President Tiffany Muller issued the following statement on the 16th anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling:

“Sixteen years ago, the Supreme Court handed down one of the most destructive and corrosive rulings in our nation’s history. The Citizens United decision opened the floodgates to unlimited money in our politics, rigging our democracy so that billionaires and corporate special interests have more influence than working Americans. 

“The result has been a government that answers to its biggest donors instead of the people it’s supposed to serve. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Trump Administration, the clearest and most extreme example of the corruption Citizens United made possible. Donald Trump openly solicited campaign contributions from the ultra-wealthy in exchange for access and influence, stocked his administration with corporate insiders and megadonors, and blurred every ethical line between public service and personal profit.

“The Trump Administration and Republican-controlled Congress have fostered a culture of corruption that is touching every aspect of government. Watchdog and oversight authorities are fired or sidelined. Lavish gifts and conflicts of interest are normalized. Political opponents are targeted while loyalists are elevated to high-ranking positions. Donors dictate policy outcomes, from massive tax giveaways to regulatory carveouts.

“There is a real cost to the corruption unleashed by Citizens United, and the American people are feeling it more than ever. Millions of Americans lost access to affordable health care to fund one of the largest tax giveaways in our country’s history. Corporate giants continue to post record profits while working families are left to pay more for health care, prescription drugs, groceries, utilities, housing, and basic necessities. In almost every aspect, public policy has been twisted to serve the wealthy special interests instead of the public.

“On this unfortunate anniversary, End Citizens United recommits to the fight to overturn Citizens United, end the stranglehold of Big Money on our elections, and build a democracy where elected officials answer to voters, not billionaires or corporate special interests.”

To mark the 16th anniversary of Citizens United, ECU partnered with Sen. Mark Kelly and Rep. Joe Neguse to coordinate a series of congressional floor speeches in the Senate and House. Members highlighted the corrosive impact of the current campaign finance system and urged their Republican colleagues to back proposed reforms. Full clips of the Senate speeches can be found below, and House members plan to speak on the floor later today.

Senator Mark Kelly

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Senator Jeff Merkley

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Senator Andy Kim

Senator Cory Booker


Senator Dick Durbin


Senator Chris Murphy

Senator Alex Padilla

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For 10 Years, End Citizens United (ECU) has been dedicated to combating the two biggest challenges facing our democracy: the corrosive impact of Big Money in politics and attempts to block access to the ballot box. Since its founding in 2015, ECU has had over 1.4 million donors with an average donation of just $14. The group has more than four million members nationwide and is one of the nation’s leading anti-corruption organizations.