Democrats Abroad has taken a firm stand against the influence of undisclosed money in Democratic Party primaries. On August 19, the global organization’s Executive Committee unanimously voted to adopt a resolution titled Condemning the Use of Funds from Undisclosed Sources During Democratic Party Primaries.
The resolution, sponsored by Susan Alksnis (DA Canada, DNC Member) and Tory Mallett (DA Switzerland, DPCA Voting Representative), with broad co-sponsorship from leaders across Democrats Abroad, calls on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to take stronger action to protect the integrity and transparency of primary elections.
“Undisclosed money in primaries undermines the democratic process, discourages candidates from running, and erodes voter trust,” said Martha McDevitt-Pugh, International Chair of Democrats Abroad.
“As Democrats, we must lead by example and ensure our own elections are free from these corrosive influences.”
The resolution notes that while the DNC platform already commits to ending dark money by requiring full disclosure of contributors and banning 501(c)(4) election spending, outside groups with undisclosed funding continue to interfere in Democratic primaries. These groups often target progressive incumbents and challengers, spreading misinformation and discouraging voter engagement.
By passing this resolution, Democrats Abroad is urging the DNC to:
- Publicly and forcefully condemn the use of undisclosed funds in all Democratic primaries;
- Explore options for banning the use of these funds in primaries, with procedures for investigation and possible disciplinary action;
- Further empower state parties to ensure transparency and fairness in their primary election processes.
The resolution builds on long-standing Democratic commitments to reduce the influence of special interests and corporate money in politics, and underscores Democrats Abroad’s role in supporting the Party’s platform promises.