Free the Files: Help ProPublica Unlock Political Ad Spending
Outside groups are spending millions of dollars hoping to influence the presidential and congressional campaigns. But much of it is hard to track down. Detailed information about spending by super PACs and "dark money" nonprofits with secret donors are locked in documents filed at TV stations across the country. You can help us uncover this spending by reviewing documents in some of the biggest battleground markets. About this project »
17.8K/43.1K
Files we’ve freed so far
$1.12B
Ad buys logged so far
Note: Aggregate ad totals may include duplicate or revised contract figures.
Spending logged in swing states
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Ad Buys by Market
| # | Market | Ad Buys |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Las Vegas | 2,452 |
| 2. | Cleveland, Akron and Canton, Ohio | 1,389 |
| 3. | Orlando, Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Fla. | 1,355 |
| 4. | Denver | 1,057 |
| 5. | Phoenix and Prescott, Ariz. | 869 |
| 6. | Cincinnati | 859 |
| 7. | Charlotte, N.C. | 822 |
| 8. | Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. | 815 |
| 9. | Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M. | 728 |
| 10. | Boston and Manchester, N.H. | 726 |
Top Ad Buyers
| # | Committee | Ad Buys |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | OBAMA FOR AMERICA | 2,371 |
| 2. | ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT | 848 |
| 3. | AMERICAN CROSSROADS | 623 |
| 4. | PRIORITIES USA ACTION | 610 |
| 5. | DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE | 519 |
| 6. | AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY | 469 |
| 7. | RESTORE OUR FUTURE | 405 |
| 8. | CROSSROADS GPS | 392 |
| 9. | NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE | 355 |
| 10. | DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE | 326 |
Who's Reviewed the Most Files
| # | Contributor | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
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kb | 32.9K |
| 2. |
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Katie Foran McHale | 15.9K |
| 3. |
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Sarita Nemerow Eisenstark | 4,103 |
| 4. |
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bkuelthau | 2,653 |
| 5. |
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Karen Y | 2,375 |
| 6. |
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Shari T. | 2,105 |
| 7. |
|
Theodoric Meyer | 1,981 |
| 8. |
|
Lily Korte | 1,648 |
| 9. |
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Harry Stobaugh | 1,603 |
| 10. |
|
Joel S. | 1,512 |
Correction: The total number of files we pulled from the FCC site was listed incorrectly in several places, and has been corrected.