Jonah Patel
Political donations are a matter of public record, and there are several ways to look up who has donated to which political campaigns. In the US, all Senate, House, and presidential candidates must report campaign donations to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which maintains a database of individuals who have made contributions to federally registered political committees. Nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations like OpenSecrets (formerly the Center for Responsive Politics) also track money in US elections and compile detailed reports on spending by lobbyists, political action committees (PACs), interest groups, and other donors. State-level information can be found on state government websites, such as the California Secretary of State's Power Search tool, which allows users to search for contributions from specific donors to any set of recipient committees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political donations public record | Yes |
| Organization tracking money in U.S. politics | OpenSecrets |
| Organization tracking money in California politics | Power Search |
| Federal Election Commission website | FEC.gov |
| Search by | Individual contributor name, employer, occupation, location, date, amount, committee receiving contribution |
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What You'll Learn
Using public records
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) maintains a publicly accessible database of individuals who have made contributions to federally registered political committees. This database can be used to search for contributors by their first and/or last name, employer, occupation, city, state, zip code, date of contribution, amount contributed, or the committee receiving the contribution.
For example, you could search for "all contributions to a particular committee on a specific date" or "all contributions to a candidate's committee from contributors who work for the same employer." This database is a powerful tool for researching and understanding the flow of money in politics, although it's important to note that it does not include smaller contributions (under $200).
In addition to the FEC database, there are other organizations and websites that provide access to public records on political donations. For example, OpenSecrets, a research group dedicated to tracking money in U.S. politics, offers a Donor Lookup tool. This tool allows users to trace donations to politicians and political committees at the federal and state levels, including contributions from industries, organizations, and special interest groups. OpenSecrets also provides information on outside spending by party committees, super PACs, and "dark money" groups that do not disclose their funding sources.
At the state level, there are also resources for looking up political donations. For example, in Texas, the Ethics Commission requires political committees to file reports on their contributions and expenditures, particularly when they are involved in state or local elections in Texas. These reports are available to the public, providing transparency into the flow of money in state and local politics.
By utilizing these public records, individuals can gain valuable insights into the world of political donations, identify patterns, and make informed decisions about the role of money in politics.
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Federal Election Commission (FEC)
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent agency of the United States government that enforces US campaign finance laws and monitors donation prohibitions, limits, and public funding for presidential campaigns. The commission was created in 1974 through amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act.
The FEC is led by six commissioners who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The chair of the commission rotates annually among the commissioners, with no individual serving as chair more than once during a six-year term. However, a commissioner may serve as chair more than once if they continue beyond the six-year mark and no successor is appointed.
The FEC enforces and regulates campaign finance laws, including the disclosure of campaign finance information, enforcement of contribution limits and prohibitions, and oversight of public funding for presidential elections. The commission maintains a database of individuals who have contributed to federally registered political committees, allowing searches by name, employer, occupation, location, contribution date, amount, and receiving committee.
Critics of the FEC have argued that the membership structure often leads to deadlocks, with an equal number of members from Republican and Democratic parties, resulting in some controversial investigations not being pursued. Despite these criticisms, the FEC plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and compliance with campaign finance regulations in US federal elections.
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State-specific searches
When it comes to state-specific searches for political donations, there are several tools and databases available:
OpenSecrets
OpenSecrets is a comprehensive database that allows users to track money flowing into state and federal elections. It provides in-depth analyses of money in politics, including campaign expenditures, donations to politicians and political committees, and lobbying activities. You can search by state or federal candidate to see their donors and the industries that support them. Additionally, you can explore the organizations and public relations firms that lobby Congress and hire former White House and Congressional staffers. OpenSecrets covers all 50 states and provides statistics and profiles on current issues and topics.
FEC Individual Contribution Research
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) maintains a database of individuals who have contributed to federally registered political committees. You can search for contributors by name, employer, occupation, location (city, state, or zip code), date of contribution, amount donated, or the committee receiving the contribution. This allows for specific searches, such as contributions to a particular committee on a specific date.
Power Search (California)
Power Search is an open-source search engine specifically for California that accesses raw data on state-level campaign contributions reported to the Secretary of State's CAL-ACCESS system. It covers contributions from individuals, businesses, and campaign committees, as well as independent expenditures made to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures. The database ranges from 2001 to the present and provides quick access to electronically reported campaign contribution data.
When conducting state-specific searches, it is beneficial to use these tools and databases, which offer detailed information on political donations and expenditures. Remember that some databases, such as OpenSecrets, contain millions of records, so specificity in your queries is essential for efficient results.
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Non-profit trackers
Non-profit organisations play a crucial role in tracking political donations and ensuring transparency in campaign financing. One such example is OpenSecrets, a non-profit, non-partisan research organisation dedicated to exposing the flow of money in American politics. OpenSecrets provides a comprehensive database, Donor Lookup, which allows users to trace donations to politicians and political committees at the federal and state levels. This includes tracking influential organisations that spend billions of dollars lobbying Congress and federal agencies, as well as "dark money" groups that do not disclose their funding sources. The database includes Federal Election Commission records of receipts from individuals contributing at least $200, although smaller contributions may not be part of the public record.
OpenSecrets offers a user-friendly interface, enabling searches by politician or donor name, state or federal candidate, and various filters to narrow down results. It also provides insights into the industries and special interest groups that support judicial officeholders and other elected officials. Additionally, OpenSecrets sheds light on the financial side of politics by reporting on breaking news, election trends, and the financial forces behind political decisions.
Another notable non-profit tracker is FollowTheMoney.org, a collaboration between the National Institute on Money in Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics. This website offers state-level campaign finance data, allowing users to select a specific state and office type to explore donation details for specific races. While the data on FollowTheMoney.org is current, users are directed to OpenSecrets for federal data and more comprehensive information.
These non-profit trackers are valuable tools for shedding light on the often complex and opaque world of political donations. They empower individuals to research and understand the financial interests and influences that shape political decisions and policies. By leveraging these resources, citizens can make more informed decisions and hold politicians and donors accountable for their actions.
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Searching by donor/recipient
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) maintains a database of individuals who have made contributions to federally registered political committees. The FEC database allows you to search for individual contributors by their first and/or last name, employer, occupation, city, state, zip code, date of contribution, and contribution amount.
OpenSecrets is another resource for searching political donations. It is a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit that tracks the flow of money in American politics. Their Donor Lookup tool allows you to search for donors to governors, state legislators, and judicial officeholders. You can also explore the industries and organizations that support politicians at different levels of government. However, OpenSecrets does not provide street address or phone information for contributors, and smaller contributions under $200 are not included in the public record.
Both the FEC and OpenSecrets databases can be used to search for contributions by the committee or politician receiving the donation. This can be done by searching for a specific politician or committee within the databases.
When using these tools, it is important to be as specific as possible when submitting queries to receive results efficiently, as these databases contain millions of records. Additionally, federal law prohibits using contributor information from these databases for commercial purposes or soliciting contributions.
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Frequently asked questions
Political donations are a matter of public record. You can search for an individual's name in the Federal Election Commission (FEC) database, or use a site like OpenSecrets, which is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation that tracks money in U.S. politics.
Yes, the amount donated is also public record. However, FEC rules state that campaigns do not need to collect identifiable information for donations of $50 or less. State laws may also vary, with some not requiring disclosure of donor identities for donations under $50-100.
You can use the FEC database to search by the committee receiving the contribution. Alternatively, you can use OpenSecrets to search by recipient or donor data, or use their Get Local! tool to select a candidate's state and pull up reports by donor, candidate, metro area, etc.
