Perhaps the clearest lesson to emerge from last month’s election results is that money can’t buy votes. Because the myth that political spending can determine electoral outcomes underlies many of the worst restrictions on political speech, the Institute for Free Speech often points out voters’ capacity to reject a candidate’s message even when that candidate spends far more than her opponent. Voters’ right to hear a candidate or speaker’s message and make up their own minds is a basic tenet of self-government. Yet every election season, politicians claim their opponents are trying to “buy the election.” Often, these complaints are followed by calls to impose more government control over political advocacy.

Below is a collection of notable reporting and commentary highlighting how this year’s election results add to the evidence undermining the myth that money buys elections.

  On Money in Politics Generally…

• • • The Washington Post: Money didn’t buy love in the 2020 election, By Charles Lane
    • The Wall Street Journal: Oh, Money Buys Elections?, By The Editorial Board
    • Washington Examiner: Once again, money in politics fails to buy votes, By Dan Backer
    • Reason: Worried About Money in Politics? The 2020 Election Showed Political Cash Can’t Buy Electoral Victory., By Sam Rutzick
    • Newsweek: From Jaime Harrison to Beto O’Rourke – Democrats Dominate Most Expensive Losers in Election History, By Soo Kim
    • USA Today: Democrats counted on money and Hispanic voters to deliver a blue wave. They didn’t., By Paul Brandus
    • The Atlantic: Rage-Donating Only Made Democrats Feel Better, By Eitan Hersh
    • New York Post: Michael Bloomberg’s plan to help Joe Biden win swing states was $100M bust, By Carl Campanile
    • The Wall Street Journal: Big Donors Spent Heavily on Failed Election Efforts, By Julie Bykowicz and Tarini Parti
    • Center for Responsive Politics: Self-financed candidates lose big despite massive investments, By Ollie Gratzinger

  On Money in Politics and U.S. Senate Races…

• • • The Hill: Money can’t buy the Senate, By Michael Watson
    • Reuters: For Senate Democrats, campaign money couldn’t buy happiness, By David Morgan
    • The Week: Democrats raised more than $315 million to decisively lose 6 Senate races, By Kathryn Krawczyk
    • Center for Responsive Politics: Senate Democrats raised record cash, but much went to losing candidates, By Karl Evers-Hillstrom
    • The New York Times: The Democrats Went All Out Against Susan Collins. Rural Maine Grimaced., By Ellen Barry

  On Money in Politics and U.S. House Races…

• • • Center for Responsive Politics: GOP House candidates overcome fundraising deficits in toss-up races, By Eliana Miller
    • Center for Responsive Politics: GOP challengers spent big in blue districts, lost bids for House seats, By Ollie Gratzinger
    • The Texan: New Finance Reports Show Failed Democratic Candidates Outraised Republicans, By Daniel Friend
    • Roswell Daily Record: Report: Torres Small outraised Herrell in last weeks of House race, By Alex Ross

  On Money in Politics and State Ballot Measures…

• • • Reason (The Volokh Conspiracy): Proposition 16 Goes Down in 22 Million Dollars Worth of Flames, By Gail Heriot
    • Patch: Election Results: Question 2 Foes Overcame Big Names, Big Bucks, By Dave Copeland