MDN states raise majority of campaign finances from $1,000 or higher donations

Candidates in four of the five Midwest Democracy Network states raise campaign funds through individuals who donated $1,000 or more in the 2006 election cycle, according to the citizen policy tool by the Campaign Finance Institute.

Illinois candidates raised 68 percent, Michigan candidates raised 47 percent, while Ohio and Wisconsin each raised 37 percent of their campaign finances through donations of $1,000 or more.

The majority of funding for Minnesota candidates came from small donations though, with 45 percent coming from donations of $100 or less. Only 17 percent of funds received came from donations of $1,000 or more.

The CFI’s policy tool allows users to make small changes to campaign finance rules in each of the states and instantly view their impacts. Users can chose to make alterations to all races, the governor or just the legislature. They then are able to lower the contribution limit, create matching funds for the first $50 donated by each donor and see what would happen if the number of $50 donors increased to four percent of the population for all statewide races.

For more CFI research on small donors, go here.