Campaigns, Voting, and Elections

“Civic participation has been a driving force in my life. Ever since I can remember, I have been involved in bettering the current system – making it more transparent, more accountable, and more responsible.”

In the California State Legislature, I led the charge in creating an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which took redistricting out of the hands of politicians and back into the hands of the people. I wholeheartedly support federal legislation that would aim to do the same. 

Reforming the Election Process

In the 113th Congress, I introduced as my first authored bill in Congress H.R.2978, the Let the People Draw the Lines Act, which would end gerrymandering of Congressional districts and give citizens more direct control of the redistricting process.

This bill provides clear and uniform redistricting criteria that give all communities a fair and equal voice in the political process. The entire process will be transparent and open to the public – the way it should be. My bill will give citizens in every state the same ability Californians now have to choose their congressional district boundaries without the pure political considerations  that still dominate in most states.

Campaign Finance Reform

The way political campaigns are funded  must be fair, transparent, and accountable. Whether it is a congressional or presidential campaign, the American people deserve to know who has contributed and how much money they gave. In an age of limitless campaign contributions, the American voters have a right to know who the big contributors are and how small donors, which are the majority of Americans, can do to level the playing field so the voice of the people are not drowned out by billionaires and corporations.  

This is why I cosponsored the “Government by the People Act,” which would establish a voluntary, competitive alternative to big money politics and reform the financing of congressional elections by broadening participation. This bill would multiply the impact of small donations from average citizens, allowing congressional candidates who take only small donations to be competitive with candidates backed by outside groups who are capable of raising and spending large sums of money. This will ensure that, in an age of unlimited campaign spending, the voice of the people is not drowned out, and is instead given a chance to be heard over big money interests.
 
To further accountability and transparency in our elections, in March of 2014 I cosponsored a bill that would require the sponsors of political advertisements to make the content and sources of information used in ads available to the Federal Elections Commission within 24 hours of their use.

Now, more than ever, Congress needs to redouble its efforts in passing campaign finance reform, including a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision, which allows corporations to contribute virtually limitless amounts of money to campaigns.

Strengthening the Voting Rights Act

Voting rights, just like civil rights, are fundamental to a vibrant democracy.

In early 2013, the Supreme Court regrettably struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. This critical component of the Act provided voting protection to areas of the country where racial discrimination against minority voters was still prevalent. Congress must recommit its efforts to renew and strengthen the protections of the Voting Rights Act that guard Americans’ right to vote. 

No Labels

I am also a proud member of the No Labels Problem Solvers group, a bipartisan group of House and Senate members who meet regularly to build trust across the aisle. Congress needs to embrace a new attitude of problem solving, compromise, and courage to be real leaders. I believe that being able to listen to others and bring flexible solutions to the table are key to building consensus around meaningful legislation. My involvement with No Labels has been a great step toward creating lasting relationships and changing the tenor in Congress. 

Accountability and Transparency

As a member of Congress, I am honored to serve the interests of my constituents – regardless of their political affiliations – across multiple platforms and mediums. Social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been incredible resources for me to promote the accountability of my office and provide direct two-way communication between my constituents and me. As technology becomes more and more integrated into government, I believe it will raise the bar for good governance, while simultaneously tapping into the knowledge and expertise of the public.

For more information concerning my work and views on campaigns, voting, and elections, please contact me.

• Congressman Lowenthal Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona Independent Redistricting
  Posted in Press Releases on June 29, 2015
• Let the Voters Control Congressional Districts
  Posted in Opinion Pieces on May 22, 2015
• Reps. Lowenthal and Rohrabacher Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Independent Redistricting And The Will Of Voters In Six States From Possible SCOTUS Ruling
  Posted in Articles on May 22, 2015
• Congressman Lowenthal Leads Bipartisan Amicus Brief To Supreme Court Defending Voters’ and States’ Rights
  Posted in Press Releases on January 26, 2015
• Congressman Lowenthal Awarded Prestigious ‘Gold Mouse’ For Best Congressional Website
  Posted in Press Releases on May 7, 2014