Many lawmakers rightfully complain that fundraising is a distraction from their duties. Second, if candidates were assured public money, they wouldn't need to court donors with tax breaks, federal contracts, and other forms of pork that cost taxpayers billions every year. Of course, even if public financing completely severed the link between donors and candidates, interest groups and wealthy individuals could still influence politics through their own independent expenditures on organizing and advertising. But constitutionally, there's not much we can do to keep well-financed interests from weighing in on the political process. Browse The full Mother Jones 400 list.
Profiles Meet the people with political pull.
Individuals Search the top 400 political donors by name, industry, state, or contribution amount. The details of every donation, searchable by donor, recipient, date, amount, and more. All letters to the editor are for publication and may be edited for length and clarity.