Major funders of state constitutional convention referendums in Rhode Island have been a topic of debate. The “no” coalition, RI Citizens for Responsible Government, claims that wealthy special interests, including out-of-state and dark money interests, are supporting convention referendums. However, the evidence shows that it is actually the “no” campaigns that are backed by the most powerful special interest groups in each state and receive the majority of funding.
In the last election cycle with a convention referendum in Alaska in 2022, the “no” side raised $4.8 million compared to the “yes” side’s $61,600, showing a significant advantage for the “no” side. In Rhode Island, the “no” campaign has raised $151,800 compared to the “yes” campaign’s $41,500, further highlighting the disparity in funding between the two sides.
The imbalance in campaign finance can be explained by the democratic function of the convention process, which aims to bypass the legislature’s gatekeeping power and improve government infrastructure as a public good. The special interest groups that influence legislatures are natural enemies of the convention process, leading to better funding and organization for “no” campaigns.
Big business and big labor have historically been major funders of “no” campaigns, with big business playing a role in Republican states and big labor in Democratic ones like Rhode Island. Understanding who funds the “no” campaigns can provide insight into who would benefit from a convention.
Claims made by the “no” coalition may not align with the funding data, leading to questions about transparency and accountability in the campaign finance system surrounding constitutional convention referendums.
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Photo credit rhodeislandcurrent.com
