America's campaign finance system is dominated by economically-interested funders. The existing campaign finance system is fundamentally unfair and anti-democratic for all but an elite few in American society, but it is especially so for women. It works against women and their interests in two significant ways. First, good, qualified women candidates have a difficult time raising money and therefore mounting serious campaigns. Second, the issues that women, along with many other Americans, most care about, are not given a fair voice due to the overwhelming influence of special interests and their campaign donations.
Women have a difficult time running for office and winning.
Given the disproportionate number of male incumbent elected officials, more women run for office as challengers. Under the current system of privately-financed campaigns, challengers traditionally have the most difficult time raising money because their name recognition is much lower than that of incumbents. Discussions about social issues that families care about are greatly skewed because of the influence of special interests and their campaign contributions. Despite the increased outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, the government has not been effective in protecting public health. A major investigation conducted by the Center for Public Integrity found that in the past decade, the food industry has killed every bill that promised meaningful improvement.