Direct answer
Track political spending in national elections by monitoring FEC filings for candidate committees, party committees, PACs, and Super PACs. Compare receipts and cash on hand when new reports land, and track independent expenditures separately from official candidate committees.
Three buckets of federal money
- Candidate committees — money raised and spent by senators, representatives, and presidential candidates
- Party & PAC committees — DNC, RNC, leadership PACs, and issue PACs (Form F3X)
- Outside spending — Super PACs and IE filings that support or oppose candidates without coordinating with them
Practical tracking steps
- List every committee in the race — candidates, parties, and known outside groups
- Set filing alerts before quarterly and pre-election deadlines
- Use a scoreboard to compare cash on hand across the field
- Monitor IE and 48-hour notices on a separate watchlist from candidate filings
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
- How do you track political spending?
- Federal political spending is disclosed on FEC filings. Track candidate committee disbursements on F3/F3P reports, party committee activity on F3X reports, and outside spending via independent expenditure filings. Pachand alerts you when watchlisted committees file and tracks IE against your candidates.
- What is the difference between fundraising and spending on the FEC?
- Receipts show money raised; disbursements show money spent. Cash on hand is what remains. News stories and campaign trackers usually lead with receipts and cash on hand from the latest report period.
- Does Pachand track all political spending?
- Pachand monitors federal committees on your FEC watchlist — national elections, Congress, presidential races, and federal PACs. State and local races use separate disclosure systems unless covered by a federal committee filing.
Not affiliated with the Federal Election Commission.