2012 Candidate Summary

This file contains information for each candidate who has registered with the FEC or appears on an official state ballot for an election to the U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate during during the 2012 or 2010 election cycles (including special elections).

Financial information for each candidate represents the sum of all reports filed by the principal campaign committee and any other committees specifically authorized by the candidate to raise and spend funds for their election. The totals cover the time period from January 1 of the non-election year through the most recent report submitted by these committees.

The record (row) for each campaign contains information, updated nightly based upon reports either received (for House electronic filings) or computerized (for Senate paper filings) through 7 pm the previous day.

Generally, congressional campaigns file reports on a quarterly basis, but they must also submit a report 12 days before their primary election. During the primary election season, therefore, the period covered by this file may be different for candidates in different states.

As part of each financial report, committees must provide a summary of their financial activity in each filing, and these summaries are combined for the full two year period to create these records.

The presentation here includes total receipts and total disbursements for the campaign along with the most recent cash-on-hand value and total debts owed by the campaign at the end of the most recent reporting period. To see an example of these reporting requirements you can look at the summary and detailed summary pages of the FEC Form 3. Detailed descriptions of each element in the file can be found in the line-by-line instructions.

Downloads for these data (XML or CSV links from the top of the list) include additional information taken from the summary pages of reports submitted by the campaign (e.g. contributions from individuals, loans from the candidate, etc.). All of the elements requested on pages 2-4 of the paper versions of these reports are included in the file.