The radical Left is a serious threat in this country. But the GOP isn’t going to lie down and let them destroy the nation.
And these Leftist dark money groups are in serious danger after red states decide to fight back.
States Move to Block Foreign Funding in Ballot Campaigns
A growing number of states are taking steps to prevent foreign influence in their ballot initiative processes following revelations that a dark money group funneled foreign billionaires’ wealth into U.S. state campaigns last year.
As of October, the Sixteen Thirty Fund—a nonprofit responsible for directing over $1 billion in dark money to Leftist causes—had already poured more than $37 million into state ballot initiatives.
A significant portion of this funding comes from Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who has contributed $243 million to the group. Wyss has openly stated that he has “never felt the need to become an American” but wants to “(re)interpret the American Constitution in the light of progressive politics.”
In response to concerns about foreign influence, Ohio set a precedent in June by becoming the first state to ban both direct and indirect foreign funding of state ballot initiatives. Since June, at least eight other states have introduced measures to curb foreign money in these campaigns.
Just last week, the Mississippi Senate, along with the Kentucky and Wyoming Houses, passed legislation to prohibit foreign nationals from financing ballot issue campaigns. Similar efforts gained traction in Indiana and Kansas, where their respective Houses passed related legislation. Meanwhile, legislative committees in Indiana and Utah advanced comparable bills, and Tennessee and Missouri have introduced similar proposals.
The issue has also caught the attention of federal lawmakers. This past December, the House committee overseeing federal elections held a hearing to address loopholes that permit foreign nationals to give to political campaigns.
The influence of the Sixteen Thirty Fund has been particularly notable in recent election cycles, where it played a role in shaping ballot initiatives in politically crucial states. According to Americans for Public Trust, the fund directed substantial financial support to ballot measures in several swing states or states with competitive Senate races.
In Arizona, the fund contributed $1.25 million to an abortion rights ballot initiative, which passed and enshrined abortion protections in the state constitution. Nevada saw a similar measure, receiving $500,000 from the fund ahead of a November ballot vote. These efforts aligned with Democratic hopes that abortion-related ballot measures would boost voter turnout in key states.
Beyond Arizona and Nevada, the Sixteen Thirty Fund has funneled money into ballot initiatives in Ohio, Florida, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, and Alaska. Since 2014, it has spent nearly $130 million across 25 states—allocating $34 million to Michigan, $21 million to Ohio, $17 million to Florida, $13 million to Missouri, $11 million to Colorado, $7 million to Nevada, approximately $3.5 million to North Carolina, and roughly $1.5 million to Arizona.
If more states succeed in passing legislation to block foreign nationals from funding ballot campaigns, these financial flows could be significantly curtailed.
“It’s clear that Americans across the country are sick and tired of foreign funds influencing our politics and want their election officials to take action,” stated Caitlin Sutherland. Sutherland is the executive director of Americans for Public Trust.
“We are encouraged by the momentum happening in the states and look forward to Congress building on their work from last session to pass a bill that bans foreign nationals from influencing ballot initiatives nationwide,” she added.
Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding elections from foreign interference:
“Closing the foreign election influence loophole is crucial to promoting election integrity,” he said. “Fortunately, states are beginning to take action to prevent foreign nationals from impacting American elections.”
As the movement gains momentum at both state and federal levels, the push to eliminate foreign funding from ballot campaigns could mark a significant shift in how outside influence is curtailed in U.S. elections.
And this could also be a huge win for Republicans if these Leftist dark money groups are blocked from campaign funding completely.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
