The money behind the politics: Tracking campaign finance data for Pennsylvania candidates

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — More and more money is flowing into political campaigns, from races for state judges and legislators up to U.S. president.

Candidates mainly use the funds to buy advertisements on television, as part of a strategy to persuade as many people as possible to turn out and vote for them.

But while candidates are using money from donors to tell their stories to would-be voters, the source of those dollars can tell a story about the candidates, too.

Looking at contributions and amounts can help voters learn about a candidate’s political bedfellows and their priorities, according to Robin Kolodny, a political science professor at Philadelphia’s Temple University.

Following the ideology of major donors could give voters insights into the ideology of the candidates, she said. As for candidate priorities, it’s unlikely money could change a candidate’s truly held beliefs, but it may encourage them to pursue certain projects sooner or more aggressively than others.

Being able to track donors’ potential influence is why it’s so important to have transparency, according to Brendan Glavin, a deputy research director at OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that makes campaign finance data easier to follow.

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