Guide to Tracking Campaign Contributions for Federal, State, and Local Elections

Curious about the financial backers of political candidates? Many voters share this interest, especially when it comes to understanding the roles of big businesses and foreign donors. Diane Conley recently asked, “Where do we go to find who/what special interest groups have donated to candidates? I’m specifically interested in big businesses and foreign donors.”

Uncovering this information requires navigating different databases, depending on the level of office a candidate is pursuing: federal, state, or local. Here’s a closer look at how to find campaign finance data for each.

Federal Elections

For candidates running for the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the primary source for campaign finance data. By selecting “Search all campaign finance data,” users can explore contributions by individual candidates or specific donors. To view a list of major contributions, click on “Browse all and apply custom filters” or visit this page. Additionally, users can filter contributions by state to narrow down results by region.

State Elections

In Michigan, the Michigan Campaign Finance Searchable Database provides information on contributions to candidates for governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and the state legislature. While not as robust as the FEC site, this database allows users to search by candidate, contributor, or donation size to identify significant contributions.

Local Elections

Local election data, covering county, city, or township races, is maintained by county clerks. To access this information, search for your county along with “clerk” and “campaign finance.” Although these databases often contain less data, they provide an insightful look into local support for candidates. In Michigan, local ballot items may not be searchable online, requiring in-person visits to clerk offices for detailed information.

Exploring Dark Money and Foreign Influence

While these resources offer substantial information, “dark money” contributions can remain elusive, as they may be funneled through organizations not required to disclose their finances. For tips on identifying these contributions, the Michigan Campaign Finance Network offers a DIY Research guide. Regarding foreign influence, federal law prohibits direct contributions from foreign residents, although they may engage in lobbying. Open Secrets provides tools for tracking such influences, including its Foreign Lobby Watch page.

Have more questions about the midterms? Feel free to reach out using this form. We’ll continue to explore these topics in future installments of The Mids.

Producer’s Corner

Recently, Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow stepped down from the U.S. Senate race. If you’ve already voted for her in the primary, here’s what you need to know about spoiling your ballot. For more information, check out the article below.

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