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6 June 2025

Wondering who’s shaping our politics behind the scenes? Every week, OpenSecrets breaks down the real stories about money and influence in Washington. Sign up for our newsletter and get the facts www.opensecrets.org/newsletter/s...

opensecrets.orgFollowing the money in the 9 Senate races that matter most - OpenSecrets NewsPrognosticators believe control of the Senate will come down to a handful of races. We are tracking the money in those contests.

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Control of the Senate likely comes down to a handful of races. The Cook Political Report rates seven as toss-ups, two as Lean Democratic & one as Lean Republican. We’re tracking the money in all 10. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/08...

wcvb.comWhat ad spending reveals about the state of key Senate racesExperts say where parties spend limited resources can offer clues about where elections are tightening.

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Our own Brendan Glavin joined @wcvb5.bsky.social to break down the ad spending in this cycle’s top Senate races. 📺 www.wcvb.com/article/ad-s...

Chart of the Week 📊: Outside groups spent $330M during the primaries. Since then, outside spending has exploded, hitting $1.3B as of Oct. 20 with a heavy focus on competitive Senate races. Spending for & against @jamestalarico.bsky.social tops the chart. More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

It’s #FreeSpeechWeek, a nonpartisan celebration of free speech + a free press. Political spending is considered a form of free speech, but it requires transparency and accountability. That’s why we make data on money in politics available to everyone.

opensecrets.orgJames Talarico overtakes Jon Ossoff as top fundraiser - OpenSecrets NewsTexas Democrat James Talarico has reached $127.3M in campaign funds, leading a massive Democratic fundraising surge.

New FEC reports show @jamestalarico.bsky.social has overtaken @ossoff.bsky.social as the top fundraiser this cycle, with $127.3M raised, including $59.6M in Q3. Democrats hold the top 9 Senate fundraising spots and 9 of the top 11 in the House. More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

opensecrets.orgDonalds has $33M edge over Jolly in Florida governor’s race - OpenSecrets NewsMore than $170M has poured into Florida’s race for governor, with billionaires and super PACs supporting Byron Donalds and David Jolly.

Heading into the final stretch of the Florida gov. race, Byron Donalds has $33.3M more cash than David Jolly, an edge built largely through his affiliated PAC and fueled by billionaires and the gambling, private detention & AI industries. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

opensecrets.orgOpenSecrets

Michael Bloomberg just announced he is giving $80M to help Democratic groups ahead of the midterms. See how his latest commitment compares to his political giving in previous cycles: www.opensecrets.org/search?q=Mic...

Outside spending in the 2026 midterms is nearing $3B. Our new, expanded tracker lets you follow super PACs, top donors & targeted spending in every House + Senate race, with filters by group type, party, ideology & industry. Dive in: www.opensecrets.org/outside-spen...

opensecrets.orgFlock Safety has spent more than $2 million on lobbying - OpenSecrets NewsFlock Safety has spent $2 million on lobbying since 2025 as the surveillance company faces scrutiny over its license plate tracking cameras.

Per @politico.com, @flocksafety.bsky.social is on a lobbyist hiring spree to fend off rules banning its camera tech, including hiring the bipartisan firm Invariant. Read our previous reporting about Flock's new lobbying push: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/08...

OpenSecrets.org reposted

Joedy McCreary

@joedymccreary.bsky.social

ICYMI: For super PACs & other outside groups, going negative can be a positive. 60%+ of their spending attacks candidates. About $1 of every $7 targets just 3 Dems running for Senate: Talarico, Brown and El-Sayed. www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

October 15th is the deadline for Q3 fundraising reports. ⏳ This filing offers the final look at a full quarter of campaign fundraising before the Nov. midterms. Follow us for full coverage & analysis ahead of the election.

opensecrets.org$330M in outside cash targets just 3 Democratic Senate candidates - OpenSecrets NewsRoughly $1 of every $7 that super PACs and other outside groups have spent has gone to opposing just 3 Democrats running for Senate seats.

Outside spending in federal races now tops $2.4B. More than $330M, nearly 14%, was spent opposing three Democratic Senate candidates: @jamestalarico.bsky.social (TX), @sherrodbrownoh.bsky.social (OH) & @abdulelsayed.bsky.social (MI). Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

opensecrets.orgVoters want to overturn Citizens United, cap officials' stock trading - OpenSecrets NewsEven in the most divided parts of the country, voters agree that Congress should overturn Citizens United and ban their stock trading.

Something Americans agree on, regardless of party: curbing $ in politics. New U of MD @publicconsultation.org survey: 85% of Democrats & 82% of Republicans back an amendment to overturn Citizens United. Follow us to keep following the money🔎. Full story: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

opensecrets.orgKalshi wages $3M campaign to fight off state regulations - OpenSecrets NewsAs states fight to regulate prediction markets, platforms like Kalshi are pouring millions into lobbying state AGs and federal officials.

Brown & Weinraub has a super PAC, allows its lobbying clients to route unlimited sums to candidates. One of those clients is @Kalshi. We reported that Kalshi is spending large sums to influence the regulatory environment in statehouses. Our story: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

New York Focus@nysfocus.com

New York’s top Albany lobbying firm is testing a new way to influence politics: starting its own super PAC to spend money in support of candidates. The committee, known as New York Forward, appears to be the first of its kind in the state.

nysfocus.comAlbany’s Top Lobbying Firm Starts Its Own Super PACBrown & Weinraub’s super PAC lets clients route unlimited sums to support New York candidates who back their agendas in Albany.

opensecrets.orgOutside groups are pouring millions into tight House races - OpenSecrets NewsBetween Sept. 21 and Oct. 7, outside spending in House races alone grew by nearly $190 million, with two Florida races leading the way.

Two FL races drew $15M+ in new outside spending since Sept. 21 and Oct. 7, the most of any House races: FL-25 ($7.9M) & FL-14 ($7.5M). 10 other races drew $5M+ each, totaling $62.6M, roughly a third of new outside spending in House elections. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

How does Rhode Island track money in politics? We sat down with Miguel Nuñez and Rick Thornton, top officials at the RI Board of Elections to discuss state disclosure, enforcement & campaign rules. Full interview: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

opensecrets.orgOutside spending in midterms nears $2 billion - OpenSecrets NewsOutside groups have put $2B into the election with weeks of spending still to come. A handful of orgs is responsible for a big share of the money.

Outside groups have spent nearly $2B this cycle, and a handful of them account for a growing share. The top 6 have each spent more than $60M, totaling $678M and 1/3 of all outside spending. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/10...

Chart of the Week📊: This #HispanicHeritageMonth, we pulled political contributions over $200 by donors w/ the most common Hispanic surnames. The pattern is clear: Those donors favor Democrats.

While federal regulators argue prediction markets are a commodities issue subject to their oversight, states want to treat them like gambling (under state supervision). So platforms like Kalshi are spending big in the states. Read our coverage: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

opensecrets.orgState Profiles: Money in Politics by State - OpenSecretsPick a state to follow the money in its state elections and its U.S. House and Senate races: who raises it, who gives it, and from where.

For the first time ever, federal AND state campaign finance data can be found in one place. 🔎 Today, we are launching a new public dashboard connecting info from state and US databases into one platform. ⤵️ Follow the money at www.opensecrets.org/state-profiles (1/2)

The unified dashboard gives journalists, researchers, & voters comprehensive coverage across federal races + state gubernatorial, legislative, judicial & ballot measure contests. Analyze donation patterns by geography, industry, employer, gender & size. (2/2)

Q3 ends Sept. 30, with filings due Oct. 15. That'll give us the last full quarterly look at fundraising before November's elections. Stay tuned for the latest data and analysis.

FEC rules bar super PACs from coordinating with campaigns. Yet "redboxing" offers a legal workaround. Candidates post directives online & super PACs use these public prompts to run ads within the law. Read our story to see how it works. www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

Despite pro-amendment groups outraising opponents $18M to $472K, FL voters appear set to reject a DeSantis-backed property tax constitutional amendment. Polls show the backed measure failing to reach the required 60% threshold. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

Chart of the Week 📊: Outside groups are accelerating spending ahead of the midterms. While 7 "toss-up" Senate races have drawn at least $15M each in outside spending 9/1-/21, TX leads with $105M spent on the race btwn AG Ken Paxton (R) & state Rep. James Talarico.

How does Connecticut track money in politics? We sat down with Ryan Burns, executive director and general counsel of Connecticut's State Elections Enforcement Commission, to discuss transparency, enforcement & reporting. Full interview: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

Ever wonder about that $3 checkbox for the Presidential Election Campaign Fund when you file your taxes? Barely 3% of taxpayers tick the box, major candidates skip the fund & Congress diverted $300M+ to other needs. Full story: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

21 Sept

Your weekly newsletter for money in politics. We break down who’s buying influence and why it matters. 📩 Sign up to follow the money: www.opensecrets.org/newsletter/s...

18 Sept

📺"Widow's Bay" took home 14 Emmys Monday, 1/2 of Apple TV's 28 wins. Curious how the winners stack up on K Street, we totaled their lobbying spend for H1 '26. No correlation to Emmy wins, just a fun look at the numbers. More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

17 Sept

#ConstitutionDay📜 is a reminder that our democracy only works when people can see who's funding it. Transparency in money and politics is essential to upholding the ideals of our founding.

16 Sept

A House race in rural California has become one of the most competitive & expensive in the country, shaped by opposing stances on corporate money. Randy Villegas has vowed no corporate PAC $, a contrast to Rep. David Valadao. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

Today marks #InternationalDayofDemocracy & #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, a reminder that democracy depends on informed citizens, fair elections & institutions people can trust. Transparency is a key piece of that, so join us in following the money: www.opensecrets.org

1/ During one week in early September, Sen. Susan Collins, a joint fundraising committee and a super PAC backing her each bought airtime on a Maine TV station during Wheel of Fortune. Collins & her JFC paid $2,200 per spot; the super PAC paid $10K - over 4x as much.

2/ A Sept. 4 Supreme Court order may change that going forward, temporarily letting parties & JFCs access the same low ad rates that candidates pay. Since JFCs can also include super PACs, watchdogs warn it opens a path for outside money to buy airtime at candidate prices.

3/ More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

14 Sept

Want to know who's funding your politicians before you vote? We track every dollar, from lobbying to super PACs to megadonors, so you can see who holds real influence in DC. Subscribe to our free newsletter to get nonpartisan, data-driven reporting in your box. www.opensecrets.org/newsletter/s...

11 Sept

With the college football season in full gear, the Senate is planning to vote on the Protect College Sports Act, setting federal rules for the new pay-for-play economy. It's already drawn heavy lobbying from broadcasters, athlete groups & universities. 🏈🎓 More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

10 Sept

CHART OF THE WEEK 📊: We're breaking down the most lobbied bills of '26. 846 clients deployed lobbyists on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act from January to June, the most of any bill, despite being law since '25. Read the full story: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

us02web.zoom.usWelcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Campaign Finance with OpenSecrets. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Campaign Finance with OpenSecrets. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

9 Sept

Join us & @muckrock.com for "Campaign Finance with OpenSecrets," a webinar for journalists on 9/10 at 1 pm ET. Learn how to best use our tools to search political data. 💻 Registration link below: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

7 Sept

Labor Day isn't just a holiday – it’s a showcase of union clout. As labor unions pour historic funds into Washington and navigate changing voter loyalties, their political impact is felt every single day. Read the full story: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/08... #LaborDay

5 Sept

1/ CHART OF THE WEEK 📈: This week we're looking at which lawmakers have handed out the most money from their leadership PACs. GOP leadership PACs have given $34.9M to candidates this cycle, compared to $24.2M from Democrats.

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2/ Top leadership PAC donors as of 6/30: -Speaker Mike Johnson (American Revival PAC): $1.2M -House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Eye of the Tiger PAC): $1.1M -Rep. Jim Jordan (Buckeye Liberty PAC): $900K -House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (Fair Shot PAC): $882K

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3/ Republicans account for 12 of the top 20 spots on the list, including seven of the top 10. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

3 Sept

Gloria Steinem, the journalist and activist who became the face of U.S. feminism, died at 92. Beyond repro rights & equal pay, she cared about political transparency too: FEC records show she gave $500 to @endcitizensunited.bsky.social in '18. 🧵 (1/1)

3 Sept

See her full political giving history since we're started tracking the more than 30 years ago: www.opensecrets.org/search?page=... (2/2)

2 Sept

The RNC's Dallas gathering has been called a midterm convention, a fundraiser, a rally - even "Trumpapalooza." And that's where just where the questions begin. @joedymccreary.bsky.social dug into the money behind the event. More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/09...

1 Sept

Ahead of #LaborDay, a look at union spending: organized labor set a record w/ $58M in lobbying spending last year, on top of $288M in election spending in 2023-24. 87% of the campaign $ benefitted Democrats, down slightly from 88% in the 2 prior cycles. More: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/08...

31 Aug

Wondering who’s shaping our politics behind the scenes? Every week, OpenSecrets breaks down the real stories about money and influence in Washington. Sign up for our newsletter so you too can follow the money. www.opensecrets.org/newsletter/s...

27 Aug

Flock Safety is flocking to DC & statehouses, pouring more than $2M into lobbying since '25 as scrutiny grows over its license plate cameras.🚦 That includes $1.3M for federal lobbying & at least $1M in states. We track the #flock money tracking you: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/08...