Data and Democracy

Chapter 5. How (and Why) to Follow the Money in Politics

Derek Willis

Derek Willis is a news applications developer at ProPublica, where he maintains political data websites and APIs and does some reporting, too. He previously worked at The New York Times.

Campaign finance data is ultimately about behavior. Journalists follow the money in politics because it reveals the connections between donors and politicians and tells us something about how campaigns operate. Fundraising and spending data helps us see whether politicians actually do what they say, what each candidate’s priorities are in running a campaign, and which people and organizations play major roles in campaigns. Even though the amounts of money can be distracting, campaign finance data is a reminder that politics is about people and their decisions.

As a journalist, what interests me is how campaigns raise and spend their money, and in particular how the Internet is changing that. I try to find stories in the data, keeping in mind that the best stories involve people doing things—sometimes fascinating or unique, sometimes banal or criminal.

Getting Campaign Finance Data

First, a brief history of federal campaign finance data in the United States. Whenever you hear, “This is the most expensive election in history,” know that “history” means since 1978, since that was when the Federal Election Commission (FEC) began collecting and publishing data that campaigns, journalists, and researchers can download and use. Here’s ...