National Institute on Money in State Politics

Investigate Money in State Politics

Money in state politics plays a pivotal role in shaping public policy in individual states and across the nation. We track political donations in all 50 states. Take a look.

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What's New on Follow The Money?

• 2007 Ballot Measures: Overview of 12 High-Profile Measures

  Same-sex benefits, education vouchers, property rights, medical research... Voters in nine states considered 38 very diverse ballot measures in 2007. The Institute focused on 12 major ballot measures, in Alaska, Maine, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington, and identified the committees that raised money around them.

• Alaska's Citizens Lock Out Private Prisons

  Since the mid-1990s - through six legislative sessions and three gubernatorial administrations - Alaska's lawmakers have made more than a half dozen attempts to privatize prisons. These attempts have met with unfavorable public opinion. To date, the strength of public opposition has prevailed, and all private prison proposals have been defeated.

• Lobbyist Link

  In many states, lobbyists outnumber elected lawmakers several times over. And their clients, who represent some of the largest companies in the country, often give thousands of dollars in donations to the candidates' election campaigns. The Institute illuminates the relationship between lobbyists, their clients and elected officials with its new comprehensive list of political professionals and the money they gave to the people's representatives in 2006 and 2007.

• My District: New Mapping Feature Personalizes It For You At a Glance

  Can't remember your House/Assembly district number? Wondering about your neighbor who is running for the state Senate? Now you can simply type in your address and our new tool (using the Google Maps API) will identify and clarify your local and statewide races. Get started in the 'Find My District' box in the left column!

• Names in the News: American International Group (Updated for 2008)

  As the world’s largest insurance provider, American International Group (AIG) possesses more than $1 trillion in assets and employs more than 116,000 people worldwide. During the 2004, 2006, and 2007 election cycles, AIG used its assets to contribute nearly $4 million to state-level candidate, party and ballot measure committees.

• Names in the News: Bank of America

  As Bank of America gained in stature among the nation's financial giants, it also made political contributions in a majority of the states. Since 2004 election cycle, the company has given $3.6 million to state candidates, political party committees, and ballot measure committees in 29 states.

• Names in the News: Sarah Palin

  When Sen. John McCain tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, Palin became not only the first woman to run on a Republican presidential ticket, but also the first politician from Alaska to be on a presidential team. Palin raised a total of $1.3 million in campaign donations for her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, $1.2 million of which came from individual donors.

• Following The Money - Summer 2008

  The most recent version of Following the Money, the Institute's quarterly newsletter, is now available online. Read it here. If you want to receive it as an e-mail, sign up now!

• With Interest

  As legislators across the country propose additional regulation regarding the predatory financial services industry, the payday lenders have increased their political giving. Since the 2000 election cycle, companies and associations representing the industry contributed more than $10.2 million to state-level candidates and party committees in 41 states.

• Names in the News: Sheldon Adelson

  Sheldon Adelson — a gaming multibillionaire and one of the richest people in the world — gives generously to state campaigns. His casino and convention centers also are active state-level donors.

• No Small Change

  At the same time that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is garnering attention for raising large sums in relatively small amounts from online donors, state-level candidate, party and ballot measure committees are reporting a small percentage of their donations as unitemized lump sums.

• From Coffins to Coffers

  The funeral industry in the United States is big business, generating more than $11 billion annually and employing over 100,000 people. Since 1999, the industry has given more than $6 million to political parties and state-level candidates in 46 states, positioning themselves to have a hand in shaping legislation and regulation.

• Same-Sex Marriage Bans Again in the Public Eye

  The recent ruling by the California Supreme Court on that state's ban on same-sex marriage brings the issue to the forefront once again. To catch up on what happened to state ballot measures banning same-sex marriage in the past two election cycles, read The Money Behind the 2006 Marriage Amendments and The Money Behind the 2004 Marriage Amendments.

• Advantage, Incumbent

  An analysis of state legislative races held in 2005 and 2006 highlights that, in most instances, the key to victory in a legislative election is to be in office already. In others, having a fund-raising advantage almost assures electoral victory. In nearly every state, having one or both of these advantages all but guarantees victory at the ballot box.

• Lowest Limits in the Land

  A 2007 amendment to Montana’s campaign-finance laws allows donors to give up to $160 each election to candidates running for the legislature. Even with that increase, Montana legislative campaigns continue to operate under the most stringent campaign-contribution limits in the nation. To assess the effect of the limits on money in Montana’s legislative races, the National Institute on Money in State Politics compared the campaign-contribution data for the six election cycles since the implementation of I-118 with the three cycles prior to the reform.