Hawaii Sen. Karl Rhoads speaks at a news conference about a bill that seeks to limit corporate money in politics in Honolulu on Thursday, April 23, 2026 (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)
HONOLULU -- Hawaii's Democratic governor on Thursday signed into law a bill that uses a novel approach to reduce the influence of corporations and hard-to-track “dark money” groups that have been able to spend unlimited amounts on politics since a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The law, which takes effect July 1, 2027, redefines corporations in a way that precludes spending on elections. A volunteer group in Montana is gathering signatures in hopes of putting a similar issue to voters in November.
The high court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission struck down a ban on corporate and union election spending as long as they don't donate directly to any campaigns. The case stemmed from Citizens United, a conservative group, wanting to run TV commercials promoting its anti-Hillary Clinton movie when she was running for president in 2008.
The ruling has benefitted Democrats and Republicans. The campaign finance watchdog group OpenSecrets tracked more than $4 billion in outside political spending in the 2024 federal elections — almost 12 times as much as in 2008.
Some of that came from dark money groups that aren’t required to disclose donors, and the Brennan Center for Justice tallied a record $1.9 billion in that type of spending in 2024. Dark money has also played a part in some state-level races.
The office of Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, a Democrat, opposed Hawaii's measure, arguing in part that it will be difficult and costly to defend in court.
“Hawaii is taking a brave and bold step to get corporate and dark money out of America’s politics,” said Tom Moore, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, which crafted the legal strategy the law is based upon. “It will send a powerful message that will be heard loud and clear across the Pacific and across the mainland.”
boogermike on May 15th, 2026 at 12:53 UTC »
Curses to Mitch McConnell and may John McCain's memory be a blessing.
arkofjoy on May 15th, 2026 at 08:18 UTC »
The good news is that this is one of the few things that all voters in America agree with. The need to get the money out of politics.
That and the prevention of building data centres in their communities.
We need to start forming coalitions across the political spectrum based on these issues.
Because the purpose of the tribalism is to keep us fighting among ourselves while the billionaires rob us blind, with the willing participation of the political parties.
samthewisetarly on May 15th, 2026 at 06:11 UTC »
We knew it when Citizens United was decided in 2010. That was the beginning of the enshittification of everything.