WASHINGTON—Heritage Action, a conservative organization with 2.5 million grassroots activists nationwide, including thousands of Kentuckians, commended the Kentucky General Assembly’s passage of House Bill 45, legislation that bans foreign funding from being used in state elections.
Former Kansas Assistant Secretary of State and Heritage Action Director of State Advocacy Catherine Gunsalus released the following statement praising Kentucky lawmakers for upholding election integrity:
“Foreign billionaires should not have the ability to dilute Americans’ votes. Lawmakers across the country are recognizing the threat of foreign funding on state elections and are taking action to protect Americans’ voices at the ballot box. With the passage of HB 45, Kentucky becomes the latest state to safeguard free and fair elections and ensure voters’ interests are put first.
“Heritage Action applauds the Kentucky General Assembly for rejecting foreign influence and promoting election integrity in the Bluegrass State. We urge Governor Beshear to sign HB 45 into law, and we look forward to working alongside grassroots Americans across the country to encourage states to follow Kentucky’s lead.”
As reported by Americans for Public Trust, foreign interests influencing our elections is not just a hypothetical problem. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has given hundreds of millions of dollars to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which has spent millions funding state ballot issue campaigns. According to recent polling, 78% of Americans agree that foreign nationals should not be influencing our elections.
With the passage of HB 45, Kentucky becomes the third state this year to send a foreign funding ban bill to a governor. In 2024, Ohio passed HB 1 to ban foreign funding from its state elections.
Kentucky currently ranks 14th out of 51 on The Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard.
BACKGROUND:
The Heritage Foundation: Election Integrity Scorecard
Americans for Public Trust: Late October 2024 Update: Foreign-Backed Spending in State Ballot Issue Campaigns
Honest Elections Project: Myth vs. Fact: Foreign Funding in Ballot Initiatives