Facebook was paid $166,072 from Minnesota campaign accounts; other states reported millions


In Minnesota, state-level candidates and PACs have spent $166,072 from their campaign accounts on services from Facebook in the 2022 election cycle so far. Facebook received 0.4 percent of all reported expenditures. 

According to reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board between Jan. 1, 2021, and Mar. 31, 2022, here are the top candidates and PACs that have spent campaign funds with Facebook.

Top 10 Minnesota campaigns spending money with Facebook

Of the $166,072 spent with Facebook, 98.67 percent came from these 10 campaign accounts.

Top Campaign Expenditures with Facebook (1/1/2021 – 3/31/2022)

RankTotal Paid to FacebookNameAccount Type
1.$113,572.13Dr Jensen ScottCandidate PAC
2.$35,440.79Dennis SmithCandidate PAC
3.$4,435.35Seiu Minn State Council Political FundNon-candidate PAC
4.$3,096.34Kim CrockettCandidate PAC
5.$2,500.00Karin HousleyCandidate PAC
6.$1,765.74DFL House CaucusNon-candidate PAC
7.$907.75Thomas C FunkCandidate PAC
8.$825.00Minnesota Young Republicans Victory FundNon-candidate PAC
9.$819.53Jessica IntermillCandidate PAC
10.$500.00Climate Vote MinnesotaNon-candidate PAC

Campaign expenditures with Facebook in 12 states

Here is how spending with Facebook in Minnesota compares to 12 other states with data available from Transparency USA for the most recent election cycle:

Comparison of total campaign finance expenditures with Facebook, by state

RankStateTotal Paid to FacebookReporting Period
1California$5,290,7451/1/2021- 4/23/2022
2Virginia$4,486,8631/1/2020-12/31/2021*
3Texas$2,675,2761/1/2021 – 5/14/2022
4Michigan$194,1801/1/2021 – 4/20/2022
5Minnesota$166,0721/1/2021 – 3/31/2022
6Arizona123,1541/1/2021 – 3/31/2022
7Pennsylvania$106,5131/1/2021 – 3/9/2022
8Wisconsin$101,9781/1/2021 – 3/21/2022
9North Carolina$78,9601/1/2021 – 4/30/2022
10Florida$38,5421/1/2021 – 3/31/202
11Indiana$29,5341/1/2021 – 4/8/2022
12Ohio$19,9241/1/2021 – 4/13/2022
*Virginia’s two-year election cycles end in an odd-numbered year. The first available reports for Virginia’s 2023 election cycle are due Jul. 17, 2022.

While spending varies widely between states, no state on Transparency USA has reported more than 1.06 percent of total campaign expenditures on services from Facebook in the most recent cycle.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Minnesota PACs submitted to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.

Report NameReport Due Date
2022 Jan Annual1/31/2022
2022 Q14/14/2022
2022 Q26/14/2022
2022 Jul Semiannual7/25/2022
2022 Q39/27/2022
2022 Q410/31/2022
2022 Jan Annual1/31/2023

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.