Independent Campaign Expenditures and Electioneering Communications

Description:

This dataset contains information about independent expenditures, independent expenditure ads, and electioneering communications reported by individuals, businesses, unions, organizations, or any other person as defined in RCW 42.17A for the last 17 years as reported to the PDC on form C6 Independent Expenditure and Electioneering Communications.


Only expenditures meeting the following criteria are reportable (see RCW 42.17A for details):

Independent Expenditures of $100 or more

Independent Expenditure Ads appearing within 21 days of an election costing $1,000 or more

Electioneering Communications appearing within 60 days of an election costing $1,000 or more


This dataset is a best-effort by the PDC to provide a complete set of records as described herewith and may contain incomplete or incorrect information. The PDC provides access to the original reports for the purpose of record verification.

Descriptions attached to this dataset do not constitute legal definitions; please consult RCW 42.17A and WAC Title 390 for legal definitions and additional information regarding political finance disclosure requirements.

CONDITION OF RELEASE: This publication constitutes a list of individuals prepared by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission and may not be used for commercial purposes. This list is provided on the condition and with the understanding that the persons receiving it agree to this statutorily imposed limitation on its use. See

RCW 42.56.070(9) and AGO 1975 No. 15.


Last Updated:
Field Name Data Type Description
amount number If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the amount must be reported.
ballot_name text The name of the ballot initiative identified in the advertising. The sponsor determines what goes into this block. It can be an initiative number or a brief description (e.g. if the sponsor is supporting or opposing a statewide initiative they could input: I-7777, Initiative 7777, Traffic Congestion Initiative, etc.).
ballot_number text This is the initiative number issued by the Secretary of State for a Statewide ballot initiative. Local ballot initiatives also have numbers and may or may not be provided by the sponsor.
ballot_type text This is the type of ballot initiative being supported or opposed; either Statewide or Local.
candidate_filer_id text The filer_id of a candidate identified in the advertising. The filer_id is a unique id assigned to a candidate. The filer id is consistent across election years with the exception that an individual running for a second office in the same election year will receive a second filer id. There is no correlation between the two. The combination of filer_id and election_year uniquely identifies a candidate campaign.
candidate_first_name text The first name of a candidate identified in the advertising.
candidate_jurisdiction text The jurisdiction of the office being sought.
candidate_last_name text The last name of a candidate identified in the advertising.
candidate_name text The name of a candidate identified in the advertising.
candidate_office text The office sought for any candidate identified in the advertising.
candidate_office_type text The type of office the identified candidate is seeking. Either Statewide, Legislative, Local, or Judicial.
candidate_party text The party affiliation of an identified candidate for a partisan office.
date_advertising_presented calendar_date The date the advertising was first presented or mailed.
date_expense_obligated calendar_date The date the advertising expense was first obligated.
date_received calendar_date If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the date received must be reported.
election_year number The election year in the case of a C6 is the reporting year.
expenditure_amount number The amount or value of an itemized expenditure. If no reasonable estimate can be made of value the sponsor must describe the activity, services, property or right furnished precisely and attach a copy of the item produced or distributed. That attachment is available with the C6 image.
expenditure_description text The description of the expenditure (e.g. direct mail, or newspaper, TV, or radio ad).
filer_id text This column is an alias for candidate_filer_id and may be removed in a future version of the dataset.
for_or_against text Whether the advertising supports (for) or opposes (against) the candidate or ballot proposition.
funders_address text If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s street address must be disclosed.
funders_city text If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s city must be disclosed.
funders_employer text If a sponsor received funds from an individual in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s employer must be disclosed.
funders_employer_city text If a sponsor received funds from an individual in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source employer’s city must be disclosed.
funders_employer_state text If a sponsor received funds from an individual in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source employer’s state must be disclosed.
funders_first_name text If a sponsor received funds from an individual in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the sources first name must be disclosed.
funders_location point The geographic coordinates for the address of any source of funding used for this electioneering communication as provided in section 5 of the C6 report. The accuracy of the coordinates is determined by the quality of the address provided and in some cases may be loosely based on the zip code alone. In cases where the address can not be converted to coordinates, this field will be empty.
funders_middle_initial text If a sponsor received funds from an individual in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s middle initial is disclosed if known.
funders_name text If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the sources name must be disclosed. If the source is an individual this is their last name. If the source is an organization, this is the organization’s name.
funders_occupation text If a sponsor received funds from an individual in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s zip code must be disclosed.
funders_state text If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s state must be disclosed.
funders_zipcode text If a sponsor received funds from any source in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication the source’s zip code must be disclosed.
id text PDC internal identifier that corresponds to a single contribution or correction record. When combined with the origin value, this number uniquely identifies a single row.
origin text The form, schedule or section where the record was reported. Please see https://www.pdc.wa.gov/learn/forms for a list of forms and instructions. C6.2 – Itemized Expenditures: represents itemized expenditures of more than $100 as reported in block 2 on the C6. C6.3 – Identified Entity: represents the Candidates and Ballot Propositions identified in the advertising as reported in block 3 on the C6.. C6.5 – Funding Source: represents the funding sources who gave in excess of $250 for an Electioneering Communication as reported in block 5 on the C6.
portion_of_amount number The portion of the itemized expenditure amount attributable to the candidate or ballot proposition.
report_date calendar_date The date the C6 is filed with the PDC.
report_number text PDC identifier used for tracking the individual form C6 . Multiple entries will have the same report number when they were reported to the PDC at the same time. The report number is unique to the report it represents. When a report is amended, a new report number is assigned that supersedes the original version and the original report records are not included in this dataset.
report_type text There are three report types that can be reported on a C6: a) Independent Expenditures (occurring at any time) -- $100 or more; b) Independent Expenditure Ads (appearing within 21 days of an election) -- $1,000 or more; c) Electioneering Communications (appearing within 60 days of an election) -- $1,000 or more. Please see https://www.pdc.wa.gov/learn/forms for a list of forms and instructions.
sponsor_address text The street address of the entity submitting the C6.
sponsor_city text The city of the entity submitting the C6.
sponsor_description text If reporting an Electioneering Communication, it is necessary to disclose a description of the source of funding for the communication. The sponsor can be one of these descriptions: a) An individual using only personal funds; b) An individual using personal funds and/or funds received from others; c) A business, union, group, association, organization, or other person using only general treasury funds; d) A business, union, group, association, organization, or other person using general treasury funds and/or funds received from others; e) A political committee filing C-3 and C-4 reports (RCW 42.17A.205 - .240); f) A political committee filing C-5 reports (RCW 42.17A.250); g) Other.
sponsor_email text The email address of the entity submitting the C6.
sponsor_id text The unique id assigned to the sponsor of an Independent Expenditure. The sponsor id is consistent across election years and C6 reports.
sponsor_location point The geographic coordinates of the sponsor's address as provided on the C6 report. The accuracy of the coordinates is determined by the quality of the address provided and in some cases may be loosely based on the zip code alone. In cases where the address can not be converted to coordinates, this field will be empty.
sponsor_name text The name of the individual, organization, or person who made the Independent Expenditure or Electioneering Communication – this is the person who sponsored the advertising as reported on the C6 in block 1.
sponsor_phone text The telephone number of the entity submitting the C6.
sponsor_state text The state of the entity submitting the C6.
sponsor_zip text The zip code of the entity submitting the C6.
total_cycle number Total Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications made during this election campaign. This amount includes the amounts shown on this C6 report and previously submitted C6 reports.
total_this_report number The sum of all itemized expenditures of more than $100 and the total_unitemized on this C6 report.
total_unitemized number Only expenditures of more than $100 must be itemized on the C6. But the aggregate of payments of $100 or less must be provided on this line.
url url A link to a PDF version of the original report as it was filed to the PDC.
vendor_address text The street address of the vendor or recipient who created the advertising.
vendor_city text The city of the vendor or recipient who created the advertising.
vendor_location point The geographic coordinates of the vendor's address as provided on the C6 report for an expenditure. The accuracy of the coordinates is determined by the quality of the address provided and in some cases may be loosely based on the zip code alone. In cases where the address can not be converted to coordinates, this field will be empty.
vendor_name text The name of the vendor or recipient who created the advertising.
vendor_state text The state of the vendor or recipient who created the advertising.
vendor_zipcode text The zip code of the vendor or recipient who created the advertising.