Why do US elections cost so much money?

Why do US elections cost so much money? Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 18:39 Outside groups benefit from unregulated and limitless spending to spread whatever message they like A ballot box sits at the Prairie Oak Lodge in Marion, Iowa for the primary elections on 2 June 2026 (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images via AFP) Off In the United States, elections are big business. No other country spends as much on them, and few political capitals are as heavily shaped by money and lobbyists as Washington, D