The next presidential election is still two years away, but several prominent Democrats are already positioning themselves for 2028 — using midterms as a proving ground to build influence, relationships and national profiles. Our story: www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/01...

"The oil and gas industry spent $249 million during the 2024 election cycle that brought in the current U.S. government, according to an analysis by OpenSecrets."

Over the holiday, the media continued to follow the money, often turning to OpenSecrets for data and expertise. #followthemoney Here are a few highlights of recent coverage. 🧵

Today is the final day of Q4 (and the year, of course). In the coming weeks, after the filing deadlines pass, we will provide the final snapshot of lobbying and campaign finance activity for 2025 as we head into the midterms. Stay tuned for our data and reporting.

Join more than 50,000 transparency advocates who follow the money with the OpenSecrets weekly money-newsletter. Subscribe for free: www.opensecrets.org/newsletter/s...

Season’s greetings! Here’s to a joyful holiday and New Year. ❄️🌟

‘Tis the season of giving, and Christmas-related businesses are spending millions in the hope that Congress, if not Santa Claus, will deliver on their priorities. Here’s what some of familiar names spent on lobbying between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...

In the past week, some of the most influential news outlets in the country cited OpenSecrets in their reporting. Here are some highlights:

OpenSecrets is proud to deliver high-quality investigative journalism that holds the powerful accountable. www.opensecrets.org

How much do you know about dark money in politics? Take our latest quiz to find out how much you know about campaign finance law. Try your hand below and tell us how you did in the comments. ⤵️ www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...

We are proud to stand with partners in calling for stronger financial transparency in campaigns and government. Accountability is essential to a healthy democracy and a resilient civil society.

In light of the Vanity Fair article this week, we wanted to reshare our profile on President Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles. It details the unique influence she holds in the White House and throughout our capital, given her extensive lobbying history. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/03...

As the midterms near, the cost of running for Congress continues to climb, even in safe seats. Our reporting details how billions in campaign and outside spending are narrowing the field of who can run and whose voices carry weight. Read more⬇️ www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...

Retiring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene built one of Congress’ most prolific small-dollar fundraising operations, fueling independence from party leadership and PACs. Our analysis looks at how that model shaped her clashes with party leaders. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...

72% of Americans say money in politics is a very big problem. That’s why transparency matters. The @washingtonpost.com's @pkcapitol.bsky.social spotlights how we shine a light on campaign finance & lobbying - to empower citizens & strengthen accountability. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

To all who celebrate: Happy Hanukkah! May the season bring light, hope, and joy. 🕎 #happyhanukkah

Today is #NationalEnergyConservationDay, a good time to revisit how utility lobbying has surged this year amid an explosion of the AI industry and data center expansion. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Over the past week, hundreds of media outlets large and small cited OpenSecrets research, demonstrating the importance of access to money-in-politics data. Here's a thread with a few examples.

OpenSecrets works every day to ensure that information about money and influence in government remains accessible and understandable to the public. 1/3

Shopping for someone who loves politics, elections or government transparency? Our webstore has you covered this holiday season. 🎄🎁👉 www.bonfire.com/store/opense...

As the Trump admin pushes for a more privatized veterans’ health care system, lobbying by veterans groups and health care companies alike has surged, along with campaign contributions to members of relevant congressional committees. Read more: www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...

OpenSecrets is journalists' go-to source for data on money in politics. Here are just a few examples of how newsrooms have used our data in recent days.🧵

1/2 In a recent interview about the Restore Trust in Congress Act, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna referenced our investigative reporting on how much money members of Congress have personally invested in companies that stand to benefit from federal policy.

Politicians use leadership PACs to gain clout and boost bids for leadership posts or chairmanships. This involves giving to members, the party, PACs, super PACs. In 2024, leadership PACs gave $79.3M to federal candidates, mostly to Republicans, but a Democrat topped the charts.

At OpenSecrets, we believe nonprofit news is a vital public service, just like public libraries or schools, and it deserves community-wide support. Can we count on you to support nonprofit news on #GivingTuesday? Donate today: action.opensecrets.org/a/donate

SCOOP: Bipartisan group of nearly 100 former legislators call for a ban to individual stock trades by current members of Congress. Among them: Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, Olympia Snowe and Fred Upton. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/12...

🦃Some more Thanksgiving leftovers for you: check out OpenSecrets' own Jackie Mitchell talking turkey with @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social on Background Briefing. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Since 2008, independent spending in federal races has skyrocketed from $140M to $4.2B, mostly fueled by super PACs. Our data, featured in reporting by @bethreinhard.bsky.social in @washingtonpost.com, shows the growing role of ultra-wealthy wealthy donors. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

In the past week, some of the most influential news outlets in the country cited OpenSecrets in their reporting. Among the latest: @washingtonpost.com, Fox News, @theguardian.com NJ.com and AL.com. Get more updates in our free weekly newsletter. Sign up at www.opensecrets.org/newsletter/s....

1/4 Americans will eat about 50M turkeys on Thanksgiving. Producers are represented by the National Turkey Federation, which has spent $3.3M on lobbying over the past two decades. NTF is on pace for its most lobbying spending since 2009. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/11...

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) and former Sen. Doug Jones (D) have both announced they are running for governor of Alabama, setting up a rematch of their 2020 race. That year, Tuberville easily defeated Jones even though the Democrat spent about 4x on the race.

OpenSecrets in the news - check out some of the latest reporting based on our research.

Our data, analyzed by @washingtonpost.com, shows giving from the 100 wealthiest Americans has risen 140x since 2000. In 2024 they accounted for 7.5% of federal election spending - $1 of every $13. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int... @bethreinhard.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com

Billionaire Tom Steyer has entered CA's race for governor. The longtime climate activist and former presidential candidate has poured hundreds of millions into Democratic politics and progressive causes. Take a look at the chart below to explore his giving over the years.

Lobbying firms with ties to President Trump are raking in staggering amounts of revenue, and K Street spending is growing at the fastest pace since the government began quarterly reporting in 2008. Q1-Q3 2025 saw a 13.1% increase in lobbying spending over 2024.🧵

Today, Nov. 17, is International Student Day, a global celebration of higher education. We looked at the recent history of lobbying on issues related to international students and found this year to be the busiest on that topic since 2020.

As the cold weather settles in, it's time for some new gear. Get your OpenSecrets hoodie or crew neck sweatshirt today. You'll be supporting transparency - and looking great while doing it. www.bonfire.com/store/opense...

We are excited to be featured on the Journalism Support Exchange, a new hub helping local media find reporting and support resources. JSX maps orgs offering everything from funding and audience engagement to tech and training. OpenSecrets is proud to support local media. jsx.news

On this Veterans Day, we honor those who have served our country and celebrate their role in the political process.🧵

Robert White, a leading challenger to longtime D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, appears to have violated a federal transparency and conflicts-of-interest law by not revealing his personal finances on time. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/11...

Reporters cite OpenSecrets on a daily basis because we provide nonpartisan, accurate data on the role money plays in politics. Here are some recent examples, from @washingtonpost.com, @cointelegraph.bsky.social and @notus.com. 🧵

1/8 Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not seek reelection, ending a congressional career that spans nearly four decades. Pelosi has been a prolific fundraiser for her own campaigns and other Democratic candidates. Her career, by the campaign finance numbers:

The electric manufacturing and equipment sector (think Microsoft, Oracle) has poured more than $226M into lobbying activity in 2025, in part to support the rapid growth of data centers and to address the resulting strain on the nation’s power grid. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/11...

Your voice matters. Your vote matters. This Election Day, let’s keep democracy strong. Because at OpenSecrets, we believe in a transparent and responsive government that works for all.

Abigail Spanbeger and Winsome Earle-Sears raked in millions in contributions in the final weeks of the race for governor of Virginia. Voters head to the polls Tuesday as the candidates keep spending their war chests on ads. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/11...

Today kicks off our #NewsMatch campaign! There’s never been a more critical time to stand up for nonprofit newsrooms like ours. Through 12/31, the impact of your donation is doubled! Will you show your support today? action.opensecrets.org/a/donate

The biggest candy makers and trade groups spend millions lobbying on sugar policy, trade, and labeling to shape what ends up in our trick-or-treat bags and how much it costs. For Halloween, we looked at their federal lobbying efforts. Unwrap the data, no costume necessary.

We ran the numbers to see which metro areas provided the most campaign dollars in 2024. Most of the top 10 are among the most popular cities. But #10 on our list, the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area, is an outlier, falling much further down the population list.

Third-quarter lobbying data is now available from OpenSecrets. Dig in to see the latest trends, including which industries are spending the most money to influence policy and which lobbyists are getting paid to exert that influence. www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobb...

The vast majority of Americans — no matter their partisan identification — say unlimited political spending weakens democracy and wealthy donors have too much power in elections, according to a new national poll by @issueonereform.bsky.social. www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/10...