The surge of the small donorate in U.S. elections: A view from Texas statewide campaigns

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, a remarkable surge in small donor contributing has been observed throughout the United States. Little is known, however, about the geographic origin of these small donors. In this research, we ask whether the impressive emergence of small donors is observed in the same places the large donations spring from, or whether these donors occupy a distinct, more dispersed, geography. If the new donors are emerging from locations where donations are traditionally scarce, then perhaps this extraordinary development is more politically significant. We find that small donor fundraising has had a centrifugal impact on the campaign playing field, bringing fundraising into closer congruence with other grassroots outreach efforts. The democratization of campaign finance is well underway with observers now engaged in a vigorous debate about the consequences.