Facebook was paid $130,806 from Pennsylvania campaign accounts; other states reported millions


In Pennsylvania, state-level candidates and PACs have spent $130,806 from their campaign accounts on services from Facebook in the 2022 election cycle so far. Facebook received 0.03 percent of all reported expenditures. 

According to reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State between Jan. 1, 2021, and May 6, 2022, here are the top candidates and PACs that have spent campaign funds with Facebook.

Top 10 Pennsylvania campaigns spending money with Facebook

Of the $130,806 spent with Facebook, 42.89 percent came from these 10 campaign accounts.

Top Campaign Expenditures with Facebook (1/1/2021 – 5/6/2022)

RankTotal Paid to FacebookNameAccount Type
1.$7,836.94Nisha AroraCandidate PAC
2.$6,908.19Jennifer Gilliland VanasdaleCandidate PAC
3.$6,418.19Edward GaineyCandidate PAC
4.$6,023.48Lisa MiddlemanCandidate PAC
5.$4,827.07llan ZuCandidate PAC
6.$4,749.80Nicola Henry-TaylorCandidate PAC
7.$4,588.00Terri M BookerCandidate PAC
8.$4,121.41Manheim Township Democratic ClubNon-candidate PAC
9.$3,465.69Unite PACNon-candidate PAC
10.$3,455.71John B LewisCandidate PAC

Campaign expenditures with Facebook in 12 states

Here is how spending with Facebook in Pennsylvania 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$130,8061/1/2021 – 5/6/2022
8Wisconsin$101,9781/1/2021 – 3/21/2022
9North Carolina$78,9601/1/2021 – 4/30/2022
10Florida$36,1481/1/2021 – 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 Pennsylvania PACs submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of State. 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
2021 Annual (C7)1/31/2022
2022 Pre-Primary (C1)4/05/2022
2022 Pre-Primary (C2)5/9/2022
2022 Post-Primary (C3)6/20/2022
2022 Pre-General (C4)9/22/2022
2022 Pre-General (C5)10/31/2022
2022 Post-General (C6)12/12/2022
2022 Annual (C7)2/1/2023

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.