President Trump’s second inaugural committee raised $251.4 million, a 142 percent increase over his record-breaking 2017 inauguration fundraising. (Joe Biden only raised $62.4 million in 2021, as his inauguration was scaled back amid the Covid pandemic.)

Over the past few decades, congressional elections have transformed from local races to national campaigns, with candidates raising the vast majority of their money from donors outside their potential constituency.

Personal/personnel news: I'm thrilled to be joining @opensecretsdc.bsky.social as director of communications and marketing, helping inform the public about the role of money in politics. Reporters/editors, let's catch up in January, when I start the new gig.