Former Senator John Tester and Ellen Weintraub Join End Citizens United

Former Senator John Tester from Montana and ex-FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub have officially joined the Democratic nonprofit organization End Citizens United. Their mission is to combat corruption and reduce the influence of large sums of money in politics.

Both Tester and Weintraub will serve as senior colleagues at End Citizens United, working to educate the public about current issues related to campaign finance reform. They’ll be interacting with reporters, writing op-eds, offering legislative guidance, and participating in public events across the country.

“We recognize that each of them brings unique experiences to the table, which will help inform Americans about the high levels of corruption we’re facing today,” remarked Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United, during an interview.

Tester, who had a three-term run in the Senate, lost his re-election bid in November to businessman Tim Shehee. Since May, he has been sharing his insights as a political analyst on MSNBC. Recently, he also took on a role as a senior advisor at a Democratic Super PAC. According to FEC records, this outside group has invested nearly $3.6 million to back Democratic presidential candidates, initially supporting former President Biden and later Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Governments need to listen to workers rather than just billionaires and corporate CEOs. We must take a hard look at the corruption and influence of big money in our elections,” Tester stated. He added that too many politicians prioritize fundraising and catering to wealthy donors instead of addressing the concerns of everyday citizens.

The landscape of political financing has shifted dramatically since 2010 when the Supreme Court dismantled limits on independent spending from unions and businesses. This change, along with subsequent court rulings, has led to an explosion in campaign financing.

Spending by super PACs and non-profit organizations that don’t have to disclose their donors—often referred to as dark money—has increased significantly. Groups categorized as dark money spent over $1.9 billion during the 2024 election cycle.

Weintraub, who was dismissed from the FEC by President Trump early this year, indicated her commitment to pushing for reforms that restore laws and institutions meant to safeguard democracy from corruption.

Originally appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002, Weintraub’s term expired in 2007. However, the lack of a successor allowed her to remain on the committee in an acting capacity. Throughout her 23 years on the FEC, she held the chair position four times.

“For over two decades, I’ve fought to implement the Campaign Finance Act to protect our elections from corruption,” Weintraub expressed. “Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United have unleashed vast sums of money into our elections, overshadowing the voices of ordinary voters.”

Recently, Tester and Weintraub have held several events nationwide advocating for campaign finance reform. On May 28th, they convened a roundtable discussion with Representative Jason Crow in Aurora, Colorado, focusing on the influence of dark money. Later that day, Tester participated in a town hall alongside Senator Michael Bennett, which was partially disrupted by protesters.

Weintraub also joined a town hall on May 17th with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

“I think it’s crucial to create a platform that highlights the corruption and chaos stemming from the Trump administration. It’s about understanding the very real challenges that Americans face daily and finding ways to unite in addressing these issues,” Muller added.