Coalition Seeks Ban on Foreign Cash in US Elections

A recent report by Americans for Public Trust (APT) highlighted concerns that foreign nationals have been able to channel large sums of money into U.S. ballot initiative campaigns through nonprofit organizations, exploiting loopholes in state election laws. In response, advocacy groups like APT, Heritage Action, and the Honest Elections Project have collaborated to push for legislative reforms, resulting in four states—Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Wyoming—passing laws to close these loopholes, with several other states considering similar measures. The center of conservative concern is Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who has donated over $150 million to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a group active in supporting progressive ballot measures, including abortion rights. The debate underscores broader anxieties about foreign influence and the integrity of American democracy, particularly as these nonprofits have achieved significant success in passing state referendums. The issue also reflects ongoing tension in the U.S. campaign finance landscape, where regulatory efforts have diverged from those of countries like Canada, where strict limits on campaign spending and foreign involvement are in place.