Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

Reporter's notebook: How we came up with that campaign finance maze

11th Hour SC-1 Fundraising Plummets for Sanford

While the Republican establishment has deserted former Gov. Mark Sanford in his bid for South Carolina’s first district, a dedicated few are still giving thousands to his campaign at the 11th hour. Even with these last minute gifts, however, his Democratic opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch is still raking in double the cash in the days leading up to the special election on May 7. According to FEC reports covering April 18 to April 23, Sanford's campaign has received $40,600 in contributions while Colbert Busch has raised $85,400. Per FEC rules, candidates only need to disclose donations of $1,000 or more in these reports. And while the campaigns have disclosed some donations made in the last five days, the public doesn't yet know who donated throughout early April. Each candidate is set to file pre-general election finance reports today, which will include all contributions from the last day of February through April 17.

FEC denies same-sex appeal

The question of marriage equality for same-sex couples became a campaign finance issue on Thursday, as Federal Election Commission members addressed the application of a little-known rule that allows someone to contribute to a federal campaign from the checking account of his or her spouse.

Max Baucus announces retirement plans with $5 million in campaign bank account

The retirement of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus comes as a surprise because the veteran Montana Democrat appeared to be doing everything necessary to prepare for a tough race in a Republican-leaning state; from covering his right flank on gun control to amassing a nearly $5 million campaign warchest -- $1.6 million of it raised during the first three months of this year. 

GOP dominates list of top House fundraisers in 2013

On the heels of the most expensive campaign in the nation's history, members of the House and the candidates who want to replace them are already raking in cash for the 2014 mid-terms. In the first three months of 2013, they collected a total of $68 million, records just submitted to the Federal Election Commission show.

FEC deadlocks on whether fundraising firm gave improper benefit to California GOP

Members of the Federal Election Commission deadlocked Thursday on whether a fundraising firm's decision to forgive an estimated $138,000 in interest owed by the California Republican Party constituted an improper political contribution.

Newt Gingrich forms joint fundraising PAC

Seems that 2012 is the (fundraising) campaign that just won't die. We already know that President Barack Obama, despite winning what he loudly advertised would be his last campaign, is still hot on the fundraising trail. And Politico is reporting that Obama's unsuccessful GOP rival, Mitt Romney, is going to be feting donors later this spring. 

Donor in Menendez probe hoped for riches from government contracts

New Labor nominee Perez an active political giver and getter

Behind Sanford in South Carolina House race, a trail of self-funders

The race to replace Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican congressman, who won appointment earlier this year to the U.S. Senate, has attracted a (literally) rich field of candidates.

Teddy Turner gives himself $30 K as S.C. House race heads into home stretch

Political upstart Teddy Turner bankrolls himself as corporate bigs bankroll disgraced ex-Gov. Mark Sanford in a lively special election for a South Carolina House seat.

Koch brother among donors to Mark Sanford redemption run

Updated 1:44 p.m. 3/8

Obama visits GOP givers to make a point about sequestration

When President Barack Obama travels Tuesday to the historic Newport News Shipbuilding facility to make a point about the potential damage from the looming sequestration axe, he'll be making a political point in more ways than one.

Supreme Court to review limits on campaign contributions

A case that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear next fall challenges campaign spending limits that have been in place since the Watergate scandal that toppled President Richard Nixon.