Friends,

One thing I quickly learned after joining OpenSecrets in January is that the political money never stops flowing.

This year, as OpenSecrets reported, Americans witnessed the most expensive election in history, and that’s before the final numbers have been tallied. But those figures only tell part of the story about the role of money in politics. We will focus on the other half of the story in 2025: how money influences the government — beyond an election cycle.

Here’s a glance at what we’ll be covering:

Lobbying is predicted to ramp up. With the business-friendly Republican Party preparing for one-party control of the White House and Congress, corporate America is lining up to lobby for regulatory rollbacks. On the other side, environmentalists and consumer protection groups will fight to preserve existing regulations. OpenSecrets will continue to provide the most comprehensive analysis of lobbyists and lobbying at both the federal and state levels.

Appointments, appointments. We will also look at who is part of the second Trump administration and how their money may have earned them a spot. As President-elect Donald Trump continues rolling out nominations and other appointments, from Cabinet secretaries to ambassadors to policy czars, we will study how much those people raised for the Trump campaign. And we will study the revolving door – the seemingly never-ending personnel cycle that shuttles people between public service and highly paid positions in the private sector.

State campaigns to hit the national scene. While 2025 isn’t a typical election year, there will still be fundraising and spending to track, especially as states become the new frontiers for political battlegrounds. Final numbers will be rolling in for the 2024 races, and two states – New Jersey and Virginia – will be holding hotly contested races for governor and legislative seats. The governors of both states, Phil Murphy (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R), respectively, are term-limited, creating scenarios for open-seat, expensive campaigns that draw national attention in an otherwise quiet year.

As a loyal reader, you know that OpenSecrets’ mission – to serve as the trusted authority on money in American politics – emphasizes the importance of accountability and transparency. That goes for us too, not just the government. That’s why I want to share an important update with you, as this has been a difficult time at OpenSecrets. While record-setting sums went to candidates and political organizations this year, money flowing to good government groups like OpenSecrets has dwindled. Unfortunately, that meant we had to make some difficult decisions this month, including saying goodbye to several dedicated employees.

We remain dedicated to providing accurate and accessible data on money in politics, and our work is more important than ever. We have high hopes and big plans for the new year, building a stronger, sustainable organization with new products on the horizon. We thank you for being part of the OpenSecrets community, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.

Warmest,