OpenSecrets
opensecrets.org
Nonpartisan database of US campaign finance data and lobbying records, tracking money in politics at the candidate and organization level.
OpenSecrets tracks money in United States politics. It publishes searchable data on campaign contributions, lobbying spending and the personal finances of members of Congress, so you can see which donors and industries are funding which candidates and causes.
It comes from the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. Reporters, researchers and ordinary voters use it to follow the money, with profiles for candidates, donors and committees. Data comes from public filings, so figures can lag behind recent events and some sources have reporting limits. The site also has guides to how political finance works.
Why it is useful
OpenSecrets makes the FEC's raw data searchable and meaningful — you can trace which industries are funding a specific politician or how much a company spent lobbying on any bill. Essential for understanding the financial context behind policy decisions.
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