Should candidates for NH governor refuse corporate donations?

The two Democratic candidates for governor, Molly Kelly and Steve Marchand, have both pledged to refuse any corporate donations this election season.

The candidates say this will ensure they are representing the interests of all voters, not just business interests.

Gov. Chris Sununu has not commented on corporate donations, although he received many donations from businesses in the 2016 elections. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled such donations are a legal form of free speech from business owners.

John Best, an independent, and Jiletta Jarvis, a Libertarian, have not reached the threshold requiring them to file campaign finance reports with the secretary of state.

Outside spending

Marchand has also challenged Kelly to take the so-called People’s Pledge, which is intended to limit spending by outside organizations for or against either candidate.

There are no legal limits on how much outside organizations, such as Political Action Committees (PACs), can fundraise and spend on advertising. That means wealthy individuals and organizations can spend millions of dollars on ads for or against a candidate.

Under the People’s Pledge, any time an outside organization pays for an ad for a candidate, that candidate must donate to charity.

Opponents of the People’s Pledge argue that it doesn’t make much of a difference in outside spending.

Marchand has proposed another, long-term reform: public financing for all campaigns.

Click here to learn more about the issue of campaign spending reform.

Do you think candidates should refuse donations from business, take the People’s Pledge, or otherwise act to limit money in politics? Share your thoughts in the comments below.