Also, at least in the US, it's the side that spent a lot less money that won. Just like in 2016.
Besides, having money is only one form of influence. One might also have influence from a massive federal bureaucracy, legacy media, Hollywood, academia, workers' unions, and other places.
I'm sorry, which side purchased Twitter?
We may instate rules to prevent such buying. No problem, undo the rules because undoing rules can be bought because everything can be bought.
Look at something like Citizens United. Does anyone want that outcome? Not really. A few, very rich, people want that outcome. And so it is made. How we got there is unclear. What is clear, in my mind, is that the benefactors made it happen.