OpenFEC API
⚠️ Non-commercial use only: no commercial use or AI training
The openFEC API acceptable use policy lists, under “Don’t”:
“use campaign finance information disclosed on fec.gov or through openFEC, the FEC's API, for commercial purposes including, but not limited to training data for large language models, machine learning models or artificial intelligence models, including generative artificial intelligence models; or”
Source: openFEC API acceptable use (checked Nov 2, 2026). This isn't legal advice.
Catalog entries with more open terms include:
Each source has its own terms; read its licence note before you use it.
OpenFEC API
The FEC REST API exposes U.S. federal campaign-finance filings and derived records as JSON, including candidates, committees, receipts, disbursements and the names of individual contributors. Records carry form and filing identifiers, dates, amounts and filer details; programmatic access needs a free API key.
Required Attribution:
The terms say: "All services which utilize or access the API should identify openFEC API as the data source."
Coverage
The service covers current and historic U.S. federal campaign-finance data and is updated nightly. A free key allows 1,000 calls per hour, each limited to 100 results per page; the FEC accepts requests for a 7,200-calls-per-hour limit.
Verdict
This is a filing-level signal for tracking federal candidates, committees, fundraising and spending. Nightly updates introduce lag, and amended filings can change previously reported figures. Contributor records include individual names, and FEC restrictions prohibit commercial use of campaign-finance information, including AI or machine-learning training. The separate statutory sale-or-use restriction also applies to individual contributor information used for solicitation or commercial purposes.
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Information and education only. Not financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Listings can be inaccurate, incomplete or out of date and are provided "as is". Free tiers, limits and licenses belong to each provider and can change, so check the provider's own terms before you rely on them. Terms & Disclaimer