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Out-of-touch billionaires are major funders of extremism and divisive culture wars in state legislatures
WASHINGTON—The Guardian unveiled new reporting on the concerted effort right-wing extremist billionaires are making to take over state legislatures. While billionaires write checks that empower Republicans’ attacks on economic opportunity by undermining education, health care, the environment, and more, the DLCC is the only organization whose sole purpose is to elect state Democrats, including the many leaders and state legislators who deliver legislation that puts working families first.
Read more about GOP billionaires’ insidious influence in the states here:
- “Billionaires are increasingly bankrolling Republican candidates in state legislative races across the US to push a rightwing agenda and gain long-term hegemony.”
- “According to a research document obtained by the Guardian, the contributions are not limited to federal elections but extend to state-level campaigns and aim to influence policy at the state level. Priorities include dismantling government, targeting ‘culture war’ issues – particularly abortion – and advancing school privatisation.”
- “State legislative chambers, once regarded as sleepy backwaters, have become partisan battlegrounds in recent years as they have a huge impact on issues ranging from book banks to transgender rights to voting laws.”
- “On an otherwise disastrous election night last November, Democrats held their own at state level, emerging with more legislative majorities than they managed in 2016 or 2020…. But that appears to be spurring on a small group of super-rich donors aiming to reshape state-level politics with a focus on issues including abortion, education and labour rights. Critics say such contributions raise questions about the role of money in politics and the influence of billionaires on the democratic process.”
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