February 2, 2016 10:28AM 

# Money Buys Elections 

By [John Samples](https://www.cato.org/people/john-samples) 

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[Jeb Bush spent at least $14.9 million ](http://www.weeklystandard.com/article/2000869/)trying to win the Iowa Republican primary, the most of any candidate in either party. He finished sixth.

Will this persuade people that money does not buy elections? Probably not. The belief that “money buys elections” is not really falsifiable. It is a matter of faith.

But perhaps those who believe that money buys elections will now think it is somewhat less probable they are correct.

##### Related Tags 

[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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