Your weekly money in politics newsletter.

December 21, 2023

Money-in-politics stories driving the news in 2023

Millions poured into lobbying and elections in 2023, breaking several money-in-politics records. Here is what you need to know going into the 2024 election cycle.

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FEC urges Congress to close foreign money loophole

The Federal Election Commission is urging federal lawmakers to expand a ban on foreign campaign contributions to ballot initiatives and make it illegal to help an individual or corporation get around the restrictions.

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OpenSecrets' Chart of 2023

Our most popular chart of the year

OpenSecrets' most popular chart of 2023 comes from our story that revealed millions in additional contributions from Publix heiress, Julia "Julie" Fancelli, to “dark money” groups sponsoring the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. The OpenSecrets investigation revealed new contributions that were previously unreported.

Julia “Julie” Jenkins Fancelli is the daughter of late Publix Super Markets founder George Jenkins and an heir to his roughly $9 billion fortune. After revelations about Fancelli’s role in the rally emerged, Publix sought to distance itself from the heiress. The supermarket chain issued a statement emphasizing that it “cannot control the actions of individual stockholders” and Fancelli is not an employee of the company.

The chart above shows the flow of contributions from Fancelli and include $300,000 to Women for America First, $200,000 to State Tea Party Express, $150,000 to the Rule of Law Defense Fund and at least $1 million to Turning Point Action in late December 2020 — a little more than a week before Jan 6 — as well as the $1.3 million 'dark money' contribution to Moms for America as revealed by OpenSecrets.

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OpenSecrets' Most Read Article of 2023

TurboTax parent company is pouring more money than ever into lobbying amid push for free government-run tax filing

By Anna Massoglia - February 17, 2023

Intuit, the company that owns TurboTax, is spending more money than ever on federal lobbying amid heightened scrutiny of its influence operations and revolving door lobbyists. TurboTax’s parent company spent more than $3.5 million on federal lobbying in 2022, more than it spent in any previous year, according to an OpenSecrets analysis.

Last month, OpenSecrets published a related article about tax-prep service providers lobbying efforts on new legislation could threaten a free government-run tax filing program titled: "IRS free tax filing rollout faces hurdles after multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign."

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OpenSecrets in the News

See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:

Dozens of assisted-living residents died after wandering away unnoticed (The Washington Post)

The elder-care industry has spent at least $51 million lobbying state officials since 2017, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks such spending in the 19 states that report it electronically. That does not include campaign contributions to elected state officials.

Five lessons we learned from 2023’s wild elections (POLITICO)

Elections are only getting more expensive: Plenty of races broke fundraising records this year. Some of Virginia’s state legislative elections had “historic” fundraising, according to OpenSecrets. Spending in Kentucky’s gubernatorial race hit $70 million, breaking a state record. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court races — which are typically sleepier races — also had record spending.

Two-month battle to replace ex-Rep. George Santos could cost $20 million (CNBC)

The two candidates vying to represent the influential New York district will likely see the help of business leaders, who have had previous allegiances with the contenders. Suozzi’s been a successful fundraiser during his past congressional campaigns by raising over $9 million since his first congressional run, according to data from OpenSecrets. He’s raised over $2 million from those in industries of real estate, securities and investment and law.