Support for Public Matching Funds Gains Traction Among New York Residents
New York Voters Embrace Public Campaign Financing
A new poll conducted between July 1 and July 11, 2022, reveals that New York voters overwhelmingly support public campaign financing and the state's small donor matching program as a solution to the influence of big money in politics.
The survey, shared exclusively with City & State, included 1,067 likely voters and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. It found that 78% of respondents expressed concern about the influence of big money in New York politics, with only 7% showing no concern.
The poll also showed strong support for the public matching funds program. 56% of likely voters surveyed said that their current state representatives should utilize the matching funds program, a figure that dropped to 58% when voters were presented with arguments against using taxpayer money for political campaigns.
The support for the public matching funds program was broad, with 67% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans backing it. Interestingly, 89% of respondents, regardless of political affiliation, believed that wealthy donors have more influence in politics than average voters.
The small donor matching program, which was introduced last year, has already made a significant impact. It shifted campaign fundraising away from wealthy donors and corporations towards small donors, increasing small-donor contributions from under 5% to 45% of total funding. This change diminished the share of campaign funds from wealthy donors and corporate interests from over 70% to 38%.
The program has also encouraged legislative candidates across rural, urban, and suburban districts to participate, engaging a broader base of constituents. Small contributions more than doubled compared to previous cycles, signalling enhanced grassroots political involvement.
For the 2026 election cycle, 90 candidates from multiple parties and districts have already opted into the program, including candidates running for statewide offices under this system for the first time.
The poll results indicate a broad consensus that big money poses challenges in New York politics and that the small donor matching program is an effective means to counteract undue influence, promote fairer competition, and amplify the voices of ordinary voters.
However, big money continues to play a significant role in regional and national elections. The poll did not provide specific details about the Assembly races mentioned in the related article "Matching funds help candidates in close Assembly races" or the $3.6 million in New York campaign matching funds mentioned in the related article "First $3.6 million in New York campaign matching funds headed out the door".
Despite this, 66% of respondents believe that state lawmakers should prioritize minimizing the influence of wealthy donors, regardless of political affiliation. This suggests that New Yorkers are not only concerned about the impact of big money in politics but also want their representatives to take action to address the issue.
Read also:
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Proposed Standardization of Food Labeling Laws Among Member States by the Commission
- Experimenting with Merz's Germany has stretched into an extended period of time, resembling a numerous three-month duration.
- Moderate discussions scheduled between U.S. President Trump and India's Prime Minister Modi next month, according to recent reports.
