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Campaign Finance

Big money and corruption in politics

During the 2026 South Dakota U.S. Senate debate, candidates tied rural and Main Street economic concerns to corruption and big money in politics, arguing that campaign money and special-interest influence shape outcomes for ordinary communities.

How should South Dakota and federal policy address big money and corruption in politics?

How important is this to you?

Sources

2026 South Dakota US Senate Debate participants (SDPB) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8fn73vDqzI
AND WE NEED TO GET BACK TO FOCUSING ON MAIN STREET IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, LIKE THE PLACES WHERE I GREW UP AND THE PLACES I AM VISITING. AND IT'S A FIGHT AGAIN, I WOULD POINT BACK TO CORRUPTION, BIG MONEY IN POLITICS, IT'S THAT SAME FIGHT.
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Public financing and strict limits on large political donations and PACs
  2. Stronger disclosure and tighter limits on big-dollar campaign influence
  3. Moderate transparency reforms without major restructuring
  4. Protect current free-speech donation rules with only basic disclosure
  5. Remove contribution limits; treat spending as protected political speech