Senator Bernie Sanders has issued a formal call to Democratic Party leadership, urging them to prohibit super PAC participation in primary elections. In a letter shared exclusively with “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” the Vermont independent argued that the current reliance on these fundraising organizations fosters a “corrupt system” that undermines the integrity of the democratic process. The correspondence was addressed to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.
Super PACs operate by raising unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and wealthy individuals, though they are legally restricted from coordinating directly with candidates or their campaigns. Sanders highlighted the massive influence these groups exert, noting that corporate-backed super PACs have already funneled more than $517 million into the 2026 midterm election cycle alone. He emphasized that the party must take immediate steps to insulate its internal contests from this influx of outside capital.
The influence of outside spending has become a focal point in several high-profile races. Sanders pointed to the Michigan Senate race, where candidate Haley Stevens received over $50 million in support from outside organizations, including $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Sanders expressed concern that AIPAC is now reportedly planning to spend tens of millions of dollars to support Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the general election, illustrating the fluid nature of these special interest groups.
During his appearance on “Face the Nation,” Sanders elaborated on the threat posed by these entities, stating, “What you are seeing is, it doesn’t matter that you’re a Democrat or Republican. It’s not just AIPAC, it’s the AI people, it’s crypto. They will take over the primaries and try to get their point of view through, get their special interests accomplished, regardless of which party.” He described the situation as “insane,” particularly when an entity supports a candidate in a primary only to pivot and fund the opposition in the general election if their preferred candidate loses.
While Sanders acknowledged the practical necessity of accepting PAC funds in general elections under current laws to avoid being “outspent 50 to 1,” he insisted that the Democratic Party has the power to regulate its own primaries. He argued that the party should immediately move to ban super PACs from interfering in these internal contests. “I urge you to take action and make clear that the Democratic Party will no longer maintain this corrupt system,” he wrote in his letter to party leadership.
Looking toward broader structural changes, Sanders reiterated his support for a constitutional amendment to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, which removed limits on independent political spending. He also advocated for a transition toward the public funding of elections to reduce reliance on private donors. However, he stressed that the party must act now to prevent Republican-aligned special interests from dictating the outcomes of Democratic primaries, concluding that “the time to act is now.” Kaia Hubbard contributed to this report.
Source: CBS News
