• Home
  • Independent Voter News
  • Quizzes
  • Election Dissection
  • Sections
  • Events
  • Directory
  • About Us
  • Glossary
  • Opinion
  • Campaign Finance
  • Redistricting
  • Civic Ed
  • Voting
  • Fact Check
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Subscriptions
  • Log in
Leveraging Our Differences
  • news & opinion
    • Big Picture
      • Civic Ed
      • Ethics
      • Leadership
      • Leveraging big ideas
      • Media
    • Business & Democracy
      • Corporate Responsibility
      • Impact Investment
      • Innovation & Incubation
      • Small Businesses
      • Stakeholder Capitalism
    • Elections
      • Campaign Finance
      • Independent Voter News
      • Redistricting
      • Voting
    • Government
      • Balance of Power
      • Budgeting
      • Congress
      • Judicial
      • Local
      • State
      • White House
    • Justice
      • Accountability
      • Anti-corruption
      • Budget equity
    • Columns
      • Beyond Right and Left
      • Civic Soul
      • Congress at a Crossroads
      • Cross-Partisan Visions
      • Democracy Pie
      • Our Freedom
  • Pop Culture
      • American Heroes
      • Ask Joe
      • Celebrity News
      • Comedy
      • Dance, Theatre & Film
      • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
      • Faithful & Mindful Living
      • Music, Poetry & Arts
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Your Take
      • American Heroes
      • Ask Joe
      • Celebrity News
      • Comedy
      • Dance, Theatre & Film
      • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
      • Faithful & Mindful Living
      • Music, Poetry & Arts
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Your Take
  • events
  • About
      • Mission
      • Advisory Board
      • Staff
      • Contact Us
Sign Up
  1. Home>
  2. Campaign Finance>
  3. campaign finance>

Meet the reformer: Tiffany Muller, would-be vanquisher of big money

Our Staff
September 20, 2019
Meet the reformer: Tiffany Muller, would-be vanquisher of big money

Tiffany Muller is the president and executive director of End Citizens United.

End Citizens United

Tiffany Muller is president and executive director of End Citizens United, a left-leaning political action committee working to overhaul and bolster regulation of the federal campaign finance system. Originally from rural Missouri, she began her political career in Kansas before joining the ECU staff in Washington three years ago. Her answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

What's the tweet-length description of your organization?


ECU is a grassroots organization dedicated to getting big money out of politics and fixing the rigged system in Washington so that government works for all Americans. We have 4 million members nationwide and are entirely grassroots-funded with an average donation of just $14.

Describe your very first civic engagement.

I began my career in government and politics when I became the first openly gay public official in Kansas as a member of the Topeka City Council in 2004. We passed an ordinance that prevented discrimination based on sexual orientation. That made me the target of Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, which sought to repeal it. We fought back and won. I learned a lot from that experience and saw the importance of being an active participant in our democracy, and it led me to where I am today.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

What was your biggest professional triumph?

Passage of the For the People Act. It was inspiring to see a wave of reformers run on anti-corruption and getting big money out of politics in 2018. That led to an unprecedented number of candidates rejecting corporate PAC money and it ultimately helped take back the House. It created the political momentum to make a comprehensive reform and anti-corruption bill the first item on the agenda in this Congress. With Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership, HR 1 was introduced and passed. We're proud of the fact that we've built an organization that supports these reformers.

And your most disappointing setback?

When Kansas passed the anti-gay marriage amendment in 2005. I lost my election that same day, but that paled in comparison to knowing that our neighbors and communities voted to pass the amendment. At the time, it wasn't clear to me that there was a path to marriage equality. Eight years later, I got married to my wife.

How does your identity influence the way you go about your work?

Being a woman and a lesbian who's leading a large organization is still uncommon. It's inspiring to see more women in leadership roles and elected office. I try to work hard, stay humble and always make time for those who want help. A lot of people helped me get to where I am today, and I want to help open the door for others.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Always carve out time for your family. Politics is a demanding environment and time is elusive. I took that advice to heart and make sure that I spend quality time with my wife and daughter every day.

Create a new flavor for Ben & Jerry's.

We always need to bring more attention to the flood of unlimited, undisclosed money in politics, so I'm going to go with "Dark Money Ice Cream." The catch would be we don't have to disclose the ingredients.

The West Wing or Veep?

The West Wing for sure. When I was a researcher on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' campaign, there were several long nights and The West Wing got me through them.

What's the last thing you do on your phone at night?

Hit the "do not disturb" button.

What is your deepest, darkest secret? (Something fun!)

I absolutely love Chesters Hot Fries. My staff gives me a hard time because I like it so much, but they're so good!

From Your Site Articles
  • 10 questions with Wambui Gatheru of American Promise - The ... ›
  • 10 questions with Daniel Schuman of Demand Progress - The Fulcrum ›
  • Meet the reformer: Aaron Hamlin, the man behind approval voting ... ›
  • Meet the reformer: 10 questions with Katie Fahey - The Fulcrum ›
  • End Citizens United makes proactive game plan to pass HR 1 - The Fulcrum ›
  • Podcast: Following the science - The Fulcrum ›
campaign finance
Get some Leverage Sign up for The Fulcrum Newsletter
Follow
Contributors

But what can I do?

Pedro Silva

Are large donor networks still needed to win in a fairer election system?

Paige Chan

Independent voters want to be heard. Is anybody listening?

David Thornburgh
John Opdycke

The U.S. has been seeking the center since the days of Teddy Roosevelt

Dave Anderson

Imperfection and perseverance

Jeff Clements

We’ve expanded the Supreme Court before. It’s time to do so again.

Anushka Sarkar
latest News

Podcast: 100% Democracy

Our Staff
6h

Americans want action on gun control, but the Senate can’t move forward

David Meyers
25 May

Podcast: Why conspiracy theories thrive in both democracies and autocracies

Our Staff
25 May

Nearly 20 states have restricted private funding of elections

David Meyers
24 May

Video: Will Trump run in 2024?

Our Staff
24 May

The state of voting: May 23, 2022

Our Staff
23 May
Videos

Video: Helping loved ones divided by politics

Our Staff

Video: What happened in Virginia?

Our Staff

Video: Infrastructure past, present, and future

Our Staff

Video: Beyond the headlines SCOTUS 2021 - 2022

Our Staff

Video: Should we even have a debt limit

Our Staff

Video: #ListenFirstFriday Yap Politics

Our Staff
Podcasts

Podcast: Did economists move the Democrats to the right?

Our Staff
02 May

Podcast: The future of depolarization

Our Staff
11 February

Podcast: Sore losers are bad for democracy

Our Staff
20 January

Deconstructed Podcast from IVN

Our Staff
08 November 2021
Recommended
Podcast: 100% Democracy

Podcast: 100% Democracy

Leadership
people talking

But what can I do?

Leveraging big ideas
Shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas

Americans want action on gun control, but the Senate can’t move forward

Congress
Podcast: Why conspiracy theories thrive in both democracies and autocracies

Podcast: Why conspiracy theories thrive in both democracies and autocracies

Big Picture
First-ever majority-female New York city council

Are large donor networks still needed to win in a fairer election system?

Campaign Finance
Independent voters want to be heard. Is anybody listening?

Independent voters want to be heard. Is anybody listening?

Voting