The Citizens United decision in 2010 opened the floodgates for corporate money to dominate our elections, allowing the top 0.01% of wealthiest Americans and special interests to exert unprecedented influence over our government. Since then, the voice of working families here in Michigan’s 1st District has been drowned out by the super-rich who use their massive wealth to push policies that don’t serve our community. Decisions are being made by those who can afford to flood our elections with millions of dollars—not by people like us, who are struggling to get by, make ends meet, and protect our way of life.

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The top 0.01% of Americans, the ultra-wealthy, have overwhelming influence in Washington, and they’re using it to rewrite the rules in their favor. This isn’t just a theoretical problem—it's happening right now, in real time. These billionaires and corporations aren’t just writing checks for political campaigns—they’re creating an illusion of control through propaganda, mass marketing, and media manipulation. They drown out the voices of ordinary voters, leaving the people of Northern Michigan with less say in the policies that affect their lives.

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In 2014, a Princeton University study confirmed what we already know: the U.S. is no longer a democracy, but an oligarchy, where the top 0.01% hold more power than the rest of us. And now, in 2025, we see it in plain sight: billionaires are calling the shots in Washington, shaping the policies that affect our communities, our jobs, and our future. They use their money to create distractions, push their own agenda, and distract us from the real issues facing working-class families in Michigan’s 1st District.

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It’s time for a change. We need a representative who works for the people of Michigan’s 1st District, not the ultra-wealthy. Our government should be by the people and for the people—not for the top 0.01% who have been controlling it for too long.

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Here’s how I’ll fight back against the influence of billionaires and money in politics:

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• Campaign Finance Reform: The Citizens United decision has made it easy for the wealthiest Americans to buy elections. I will work to pass real campaign finance reforms that limit the influence of dark money, super PACs, and corporate donations in our elections. We need to restore transparency and make sure that voters—not billionaires—decide who represents them in Congress.

• Combating Propaganda and Media Manipulation: The top 0.01% use their massive wealth to manipulate public opinion through media influence, flooding our communities with misleading advertisements and false narratives. This corporate-driven narrative undermines the truth and creates confusion around policies that could benefit everyday Americans. I’ll work to ensure more transparency in political ads and media spending, so voters in Michigan’s 1st District can make informed decisions, free from the influence of the wealthiest few.

• Ending Corporate Control Over Politics: Lobbyists and corporate donors wield too much influence in Washington, pushing for policies that benefit their bottom line, not ours. I will fight to reduce corporate influence in politics, ensuring that decisions are made based on what’s best for the people of Northern Michigan, not what’s best for the profits of large corporations.

• Restoring Fair Elections: Money shouldn’t be the deciding factor in who wins an election. I will fight to ensure that our elections are fair, that voter rights are protected, and that gerrymandering is addressed. We need to level the playing field so that every voter in Michigan’s 1st District has an equal say in the direction of our country—without being drowned out by billionaires who can buy their way to influence.

• A Representative Who Works for You: Unlike my opponent, Jack Bergman, who has a history of voting against his constituents' interests in support of big-money donors and corporate interests, I will always prioritize the needs of Michigan families over those of the top 0.01%. I’m committed to being a full-time representative for our district—one who answers to you, not to those with the deepest pockets.

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The influence of the wealthiest Americans has grown far too large, and it’s time we take back our democracy. The billionaires and corporate elites cannot continue to use their wealth to control our elections, manipulate the media, and exploit our government for their own gain.

 

I’m committed to fighting for a fairer, more equitable democracy, where working families in Michigan’s 1st District have the power, not the super-wealthy few.