In January, MapLight filed a complaint with the IRS after Americans for Prosperity, the flagship dark money organization of billionaire libertarian brothers Charles and David Koch, refused to disclose information about the size of individual contributions that allowed them to amass nearly $64 million in 2016 alone. Americans for Prosperity (AFP) rejected MapLight’s request to … Continue reading "MapLight battles the Koch brothers over transparency"

Last week, as our country faced yet another mass shooting—this time at a high school in Parkland, Florida—our President, Daniel G. Newman, spoke with Jane McMillan of KCBS radio about the political power that special interest groups like the NRA wield over elected officials and the legislative process. In the interview, Jane and Dan discuss … Continue reading "How the NRA blocks progress on gun violence"

Since June 2017, MapLight has worked with state and local democracy reform campaigns across the country, providing data analysis, policy and messaging guidance, and public education to help reclaim political systems for the people.

In a major victory for transparency, Governor Jerry Brown signed the California DISCLOSE Act this weekend. The new law requires ballot measure ads and independent expenditure ads for or against candidates to clearly and prominently disclose the identity of their top three funders.

MapLight’s new Campaign Contribution Search allows users to easily search for campaign contributions to federal candidates.

Amid public outcry generated by a MapLight/International Business Times investigation, Governor Susana Martinez announced that she will now support removing elected officials from the New Mexico State Investment Council after previously vetoing legislation to do so.

The Gorsuch nomination reveals that the Trump administration is taking advantage of a loophole in U.S. campaign finance law that allows elected officials to coordinate their agendas with nonprofit organizations that aren’t required to disclose their donors to the public.