In Defying the Odds, we discuss congressional elections as well as the presidential race. Campaign finance is a big part of the story.
Did you know . . .All this material and much more is in a new 83-page publication just released by the Campaign Finance Institute, “CFI’s Guide to Money in Federal Elections – 2016 in Historical Context.” The authors are Michael J. Malbin (CFI’s Executive Director and a Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, SUNY) and Brendan Glavin (CFI’s Data and Systems Manager).
- That Donald Trump raised more money from small donors than Barack Obama – more than Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton combined?
- That independent spending in congressional elections by non-party groups was nearly 14 times as high in 2016 as 2008, the last election before Citizens United?
- That more than half of the “non-party” independent spending in 2016 House elections was by two Super PACs closely identified with the party leaders in Congress?
- That the Democratic Party raised more money in 2016 than ever before? Or,
- That successful challengers normally spend less than the incumbents they beat?
The publication is loaded with historical tables, with many going back decades. It is divided into four main sections on presidential elections, congressional elections, political parties, and independent spending. Each section includes historical tables that go through 2016, preceded by essays that interpret the tables and put them in context.
This will be exactly the reference many politics-watchers will need to put the next election’s money-in-politics news into perspective. You can download or view a copy of the full publication here. Any of the tables included in the report can be downloaded as Excel files by using links located under each. Many present the information in inflation-adjusted dollars. Where they do, the downloaded versions include a separate tab with the dollar figures before adjustment. Feel free to use or republish the tables, but please credit CFI when you do.
