Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, Excluding Party Committees

The chart below shows spending by outside groups in three categories: independent expenditures, electioneering communications and communication costs. As the chart makes clear, the 2004 election marked a watershed moment in the use of independent expenditures to try to sway voters, with most of that new spending coming from the national party committees. The 2010 election marks the rise of a new political committee, dubbed "super PACs," and officially known as "independent-expenditure only committees," which can raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as wealthy individuals.

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Super PACs may overtly advocate for the defeat or election of federal candidates. In addition to super PACs and regular political action committees (which raise money via contributions capped at $5,000 per year), special interest groups also have other vehicles at their disposal to influence elections and policy. These include 527 organizations registered with the Internal Revenue Service and 501(c) nonprofits, which aren't primarily supposed to be involved in politics, but are allowed limited political activity. 501(c) groups must also register with the IRS, but do not have to publicly disclose their donors.

Excluding Party Committees | All Groups GROUP FILTER:

Outside Spending by Cycle thru September 24th of election year, Excluding Party Committees

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Cycle Total Independent

Expenditures Electioneering

Communications Communication

Costs 2020 $945,742,440 $938,550,750 $6,938,912 $252,778 2018 $425,854,889 $415,584,426 $8,983,546 $1,286,917 2016 $766,238,378 $754,906,855 $1,997,346 $9,334,177 2014 $258,365,250 $250,962,970 $4,464,933 $2,937,347 2012 $403,815,423 $392,485,041 $5,816,662 $5,513,720 2010 $93,969,912 $61,978,298 $21,272,668 $10,718,946 2008 $159,243,377 $66,080,211 $66,924,762 $26,238,404 2006 $16,852,360 $10,679,743 $3,258,456 $2,914,161 2004 $83,479,108 $26,574,020 $47,321,887 $9,583,201 2002 $5,624,050 $3,883,747 N/A $1,740,303 2000 $11,981,212 $6,133,896 N/A $5,847,316 1998 $3,099,000 $2,508,288 N/A $590,712 1996 $5,348,226 $2,756,586 N/A $2,591,640 1994 $2,504,340 $1,570,127 N/A $934,213 1992 $7,110,615 $4,156,325 N/A $2,954,290 1990 $2,838,983 $2,341,387 N/A $497,596

Total Liberal vs. Conservative Outside Spending, Excluding Party Committees