Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a constitutional amendment ballot measure to limit corporate election spending.
If the measure is approved, an advisory referendum would be placed on the November 2026 ballot aimed at overturning the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v F.E.C.
This decision gave corporations human rights, allowing payments to those running for office to be viewed as free speech, opening the doors for massive campaign donations from corporations.
Among the Wisconsin representatives from the State Senate and Assembly to introduce the measure was 26th District Assemblyman Joe Sheehan of Sheboygan.
Sheehan said, “After the last few months, it has become clear that we need to take action on corporate money that is spent on elections here in Wisconsin.”
This comes after the state Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel became the most expensive such race in the history of the country.
Crawford beat Schimel despite each receiving millions in donations, much of which came from out-of-state donors, namely Elon Musk and affiliated groups who funneled approximately $21 million to the campaign that failed to win.
The proposed constitutional amendment would feature two statements.
Firstly, “Only human beings are endowed with constitutional rights—not corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations, or other artificial entities.”
As well as, “Money is not speech, and therefore limiting political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.”
Others supporting the measure include Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Jeff Smith and Milwaukee Senator Chris Larson among others.
