Simone Lawson
Political donations are a crucial aspect of the American electoral process, with campaigns relying on financial contributions to fund their activities. However, only a small fraction of Americans make donations to political candidates, parties, or committees. The share of Americans who donate varies across different demographic groups, with higher-income, older, and more educated individuals being more likely to contribute. The impact of these donations, especially those from mega-donors, has sparked concerns about the influence of large donors and the role of dark money in political campaigns.
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What You'll Learn
- Only 5% of Americans donate to political campaigns
- Older, wealthier, and more educated Americans are more likely to donate
- Democrats were twice as likely as Republicans to donate in 2016
- Political donations from individuals represent a large share of campaign funding
- Dark money groups spend millions on elections without revealing their sources
Only 5% of Americans donate to political campaigns
According to Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, only 5% of Americans donate to political campaigns and candidates. This figure is based on a survey asking people if they have donated, rather than actual donation records. However, other sources suggest that the percentage of Americans who donate large sums to political campaigns is even smaller.
Factors Influencing Political Donations
Several factors influence the likelihood of Americans donating to political campaigns. These include age, income, education, and political engagement. Older Americans are more likely to contribute than younger Americans, with the average donation rate for those aged 18 to 29 being 9%, compared to 32% for those 65 and older. Higher-income individuals are also more likely to donate, with nearly a third (32%) of those with family incomes of $150,000 or more reporting donations, compared to 7% of those with family incomes below $30,000. Education is another factor, with 29% of those with postgraduate degrees donating, compared to 7% of those with a high school diploma or less.
Political Engagement and Donations
During the 2016 campaign, politically engaged Americans were much more likely to make donations. Those who followed government and public affairs most of the time reported donating at a rate of 28%, while less engaged individuals donated at a rate of less than 7%. Voting behavior also influenced donation rates, with 21% of those who always or nearly always voted reporting donations, compared to 4% of those who seldom voted.
Sources of Campaign Funding
While individual donations are a significant source of funding for political campaigns, they represent only a portion of the total funds raised. Political action committees (PACs), including Super PACs, also contribute substantial amounts. Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations and spend heavily on political advertising and other election-related activities. In the 2024 election cycle, over 65% of the $8.6 billion raised came from PACs, while individual candidates collected over $2 billion.
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Older, wealthier, and more educated Americans are more likely to donate
Political donations from individuals represent a large share of campaign funding. In the 2016 election cycle, 71% of Hillary Clinton's fundraising total and 40% of Donald Trump's came from individual contributions. According to the American National Election Studies (ANES), the share of Americans who say they have donated to an individual running for public office within the past year has doubled, increasing from 6% in 1992 to 12% in 2016.
While the percentage of Americans who donate to political campaigns is quite small, older, wealthier, and more educated Americans are more likely to donate. According to the fall 2016 Pew Research Center survey, 32% of those with family incomes of $150,000 or more say they made a political donation, compared to 7% of those with family incomes of less than $30,000. Education is also strongly associated with an individual's likelihood of making a donation. 29% of those with a postgraduate degree reported donating, compared to 24% with a college degree, and 7% with a high school diploma or less education.
Older Americans are also more likely to contribute than younger Americans. The average donation rate for those ages 18 to 29 is 9%, while for those 65 and older, it jumps to 32%. This trend is consistent across all income levels. Those who earn more also tend to donate more. Among those who donated, 27% of those with family incomes of $150,000 or more contributed more than $250, while 16% of contributors with incomes between $75,000 and $150,000 gave at least $250.
The increasing influence of large donors in political campaigns has become a cause for public concern. A 2018 opinion poll found that 74% of Americans surveyed believed it was "very" important that large donors not have more political influence than other people, but 72% felt that this was "not at all" or "not too" likely. The public outrage over large political donations is not a new phenomenon. In 1972, a $2 million political donation by an insurance magnate to Richard M. Nixon's campaign contributed to a movement for post-Watergate reforms in campaign financing.
The specific rules and regulations governing campaign donations, spending, and public funding vary across different levels of government and are enforced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent federal agency. For example, under FEC rules, campaigns must register the personal data of donors who give $200 or more, but they are not required to disclose the names of donors who give less than $200.
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Democrats were twice as likely as Republicans to donate in 2016
Political donations from individuals represent a large share of campaign funding. In the 2016 election cycle, 71% of Hillary Clinton's fundraising total and 40% of Donald Trump's came from individual contributions. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late September to early October 2016, 28% of politically engaged Americans reported making a donation, compared to less than 7% of those less engaged in politics. Voting behaviour also plays a role, with 21% of frequent voters saying they donated, compared to 4% of infrequent voters.
Income and education levels also influence donation behaviour. The 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that 32% of individuals with family incomes of $150,000 or more made political donations, compared to 7% of those with family incomes below $30,000. Education followed a similar pattern, with 29% of those holding a postgraduate degree reporting donations, compared to 7% of those with a high school diploma or less.
While the majority of Americans who donated gave less than $100, a notable number contributed larger sums. Of those who donated, 27% with family incomes over $150,000 gave more than $250, and 16% of those with incomes between $75,000 and $150,000 donated at least $250. These findings highlight the impact of larger donations, which can significantly influence campaign funding.
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Political donations from individuals represent a large share of campaign funding
Political donations from individuals make up a significant portion of campaign funding in the United States, with a growing number of Americans contributing to political campaigns. During the 2016 election cycle, 71% of Hillary Clinton's fundraising total and 40% of Donald Trump's came from individual contributions, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. This indicates a notable shift from two decades ago, as surveys conducted by the American National Election Studies (ANES) show that the share of Americans who donated to an individual running for public office within the past year doubled from 6% in 1992 to 12% in 2016.
The share of Americans who make political donations varies depending on various factors, including age, income, education, and political engagement. According to the Pew Research Center survey, older Americans are more likely to contribute than younger ones. The average donation rate for those aged 18 to 29 is 9%, while it increases to 32% for individuals aged 65 and older. Similarly, higher-income individuals are more likely to donate, with 32% of those earning $150,000 or more reporting political donations, compared to 7% of those with family incomes below $30,000. Education also plays a role, with 29% of those holding a postgraduate degree donating, compared to 7% of those with a high school diploma or less.
Political engagement is another critical factor influencing donation rates. During the 2016 campaign, those who closely followed government and public affairs were more inclined to donate, with a reported donation rate of 28%. In contrast, those who paid less attention to politics donated at a lower rate of less than 7%. Voting behavior also correlates with donation patterns, as 21% of frequent voters made political contributions, compared to 4% of those who voted infrequently.
While the majority of Americans donate smaller amounts, with 55% contributing less than $100, a small group of mega-donors can have a significant impact. In the 2024 election cycle, Elon Musk emerged as the largest individual political donor, contributing $277 million to Trump and allied Republicans. This highlights the concern over the influence of large donors and the role of "'dark money' in political campaigns, where the true source of contributions may be obscured.
To address these concerns, various laws and regulations have been enacted to govern campaign donations, spending, and public funding. The Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent federal agency, enforces these regulations. Additionally, nonprofit organizations like the Center for Responsive Politics, Consumer Watchdog, and Common Cause work to track and enhance transparency in campaign financing.
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Dark money groups spend millions on elections without revealing their sources
In the context of political campaigns, "dark money" refers to undisclosed funds from outside groups that are used to influence election outcomes. Dark money groups are entities that spend millions of dollars on elections without revealing the sources of their funding. This allows wealthy special interests to exert influence over high-stakes elections while evading accountability. The term "dark money" was first used by the Sunlight Foundation to describe the influx of undisclosed funds during the 2010 United States mid-term election.
The rise of dark money in politics can be traced back to several landmark court decisions, notably the United States Supreme Court rulings in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. (2008) and Citizens United v. FEC (2010). In Citizens United, the Court determined that corporations and unions could spend unlimited funds to support or oppose political candidates, significantly impacting the campaign finance landscape.
Dark money groups often operate as "attack dogs" during campaigns, employing tactics to criticize candidates without directly tying themselves to a particular political party or candidate. By doing so, they can remain in the shadows and avoid mandatory donor disclosure rules that would apply if they registered as political committees. The most common type of dark money group is the 501(c)(4), often referred to as a social welfare organization. These organizations can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals, and unions.
The impact of dark money on elections is significant. In the 2020 election cycle, over $1 billion was spent in undisclosed funding, with $514 million benefiting Democrats and $200 million going to Republicans. This represents a substantial increase from previous election cycles, such as the 2010 midterms, where dark money spending was estimated at around $127 million, and the 2012 election cycle, where it surpassed $300 million.
The lack of transparency surrounding dark money has raised concerns among critics, who argue that recipients of such funding become beholden to their anonymous funders, while voters remain unaware of the connections between donors and politicians. This dynamic has the potential to undermine democratic principles and distort the political process.
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Frequently asked questions
According to Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, only 5% of Americans donate to political campaigns and candidates. However, this figure is based on a survey and not actual donations. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 0.52% of the US population donated $200 or more to political candidates, parties, or political action committees in 2016.
Political donations from individuals represent a large share of campaign funding. In the 2016 election cycle, 71% of Hillary Clinton's fundraising total and 40% of Donald Trump's came from individual contributions. In the 2024 election cycle, individual candidates have drawn over $2 billion.
Americans who are more politically engaged are more likely to donate. During the 2016 campaign, 28% of those who followed government and public affairs most of the time reported donating, compared to less than 7% of those who followed less frequently. Higher-income, more educated, and older Americans are also more likely to donate.
