The Federal Election Commission (FEC) recently expanded options for searching campaign finance data to include the ability to search by leadership PAC sponsor. The new search allows users to select “Leadership PAC” as the committee type, then enter a sponsor name to search. Previously, this information could only be obtained through the campaign finance disclosure database by accessing records for a specific PAC and reviewing the PAC’s Statement of Organization.

The FEC defines a leadership PAC as a “political committee that is directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding a federal office. The committee is not an authorized committee of the candidate or office holder, and is not affiliated with an authorized committee of a candidate or office holder.”