Jon Tester criticizes out-of-state billionaires for influencing elections by funding his own reelection
Sen. Jon Tester: Fighting Against Billionaires’ Influence in Elections
To Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), the urgency to prevent “billionaires from buying our elections” cannot be overstated. He passionately criticizes the wealthy and well-connected individuals who attempt to wield power in Washington, D.C. Tester attributes this phenomenon to the Supreme Court’s landmark 2010 Citizens United decision, which deemed it unconstitutional to restrict outside groups from spending money on campaign advertising.
However, what raises eyebrows is that Tester himself has relied on billionaires to fund his own campaign. Since 2006, these billionaires have generously contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Tester’s political endeavors. As he gears up for the 2024 race to retain his Montana Senate seat, many billionaires are once again rallying behind him, as revealed by Federal Election Commission records.
This acceptance of substantial sums from billionaires is likely to expose Tester to accusations of hypocrisy on the campaign trail. He has faced criticism for failing to fulfill his earlier promise to disclose meetings with lobbyists, who directed over $400,000 to Tester’s campaign and leadership political action committee last year. Internal emails have also surfaced, indicating that hemp industry lobbyists played a significant role in shaping a bill introduced by Tester in 2023, despite his claims of not being dependent on lobbyists.
“Two-Faced Tester has become everything that’s wrong with Washington,”
Katie Martin, a campaign spokeswoman for Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, told the Washington Examiner. “Tester got six times richer and became a multimillionaire as a career politician hobnobbing with lobbyists and voting like New York’s third Senator for nearly two decades in exchange for millions of liberal super PAC and out-of-state dark money from progressive billionaires trying to buy Montana’s elections.”
Tester, who previously denounced “out-of-state billionaires trying to buy our Senate seat,” has referred to so-called dark money as “a stain on our country.” However, this sentiment did not prevent him from accepting a combined $32,000 in donations this election cycle from billionaire George Soros, who funds the dark money Open Society Foundations grantmaking empire, as well as Soros’s family members.
Tester’s 2024 reelection campaign has also received contributions from prominent billionaires such as ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt, chairman Barry Diller of major holding company IAC Inc., Indiana Pacers Owner Herb Simon, Walmart heirs like Jim Walton, and investor Dirk Ziff, according to campaign finance disclosures. Billionaire Democrat climate investor Tom Steyer directed $6,600 to Tester’s campaign in July of last year. Other recent backers of Tester include venture capitalist Gary Lauder, philanthropist Jon Stryker, and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.
Tester’s commitment to overturning the Citizens United decision and preventing billionaires from influencing elections remains unwavering. He has been vocal about the need to prioritize grassroots efforts and personal connections over out-of-state billionaires and Super PACs. Tester’s opponent in the upcoming race is Tim Sheehy, who has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) briefly entered the Montana Senate race but withdrew in February due to a lack of viable path to the GOP nomination.
According to data from OpenSecrets, a campaign finance tracking website, Tester has received the highest amount of cash this cycle from the commercial banking industry ($151,968) and venture capitalists ($222,080) compared to other senators.
As of now, Tester’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment.
How does Tester argue that accepting contributions from wealthy individuals helps level the playing field in an era of unlimited campaign spending by billionaires?
Ut dark money dollars.”
Despite the criticism surrounding Tester’s reliance on billionaire donors and his questionable connections to lobbyists, he remains steadfast in his mission to combat the influence of money in politics. He has been a vocal advocate for campaign finance reform, supporting measures such as the DISCLOSE Act, which seeks to increase transparency in campaign spending.
Tester argues that while he may accept contributions from wealthy individuals, he does so in order to level the playing field. In an era where billionaires can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns, Tester believes that not accepting their support would put him at a severe disadvantage. He contends that until comprehensive campaign finance reform is achieved, candidates have no choice but to engage with these donors.
Furthermore, Tester has implemented his own safeguards to ensure that he remains independent from the influence of his donors. He has publicly stated that he will not accept contributions from corporate political action committees (PACs) and continues to prioritize policies that benefit the working class and small businesses rather than big corporations or special interest groups.
Despite these assertions, critics argue that Tester’s actions undermine his message. They contend that by accepting significant sums of money from wealthy donors, he is perpetuating the very system he claims to fight against. They believe that until politicians like Tester truly distance themselves from billionaire influence, their words will ring hollow.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding Tester’s reliance on billionaire donors, his commitment to combating the influence of money in politics is undoubtedly a crucial issue. The United States has long grappled with the role of money in elections, and the concentration of wealth among a few individuals has only exacerbated this issue. While Tester may be criticized for his actions, his rhetoric and support for reform signal a recognition of the harmful effects that massive amounts of money can have on democracy.
In the coming years, it will be interesting to see if Tester can reconcile his words with his actions and navigate the complex landscape of campaign finance. As he seeks re-election in 2024, the scrutiny surrounding his connections to billionaires and lobbyists is likely to intensify. Whether Tester can effectively address these concerns and present himself as a champion for campaign finance reform will ultimately be up to the voters of Montana.
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