Top 25: Outside Influence in Nebraska Politics
The 25 non-candidate organizations (PACs, party committees, super PACs, unions, trade and issue groups, ballot committees, businesses and nonprofits) that put the most money into Nebraska politics, from NADC and FEC filings. Money Map · Local funds · Method
What "outside influence" means here: money from any organization other than a candidate, a candidate's own committee, or an individual donor: direct contributions (cash, in-kind, loans and pledge payments as filed; unpaid pledges are not counted), independent / third-party expenditures, and ballot committee campaign spending. It does not mean out-of-state; use the origin filter for that, based on the state in each filing. Payment processors (ActBlue, WinRed, Anedot) are excluded because they pass along individual gifts. Individuals are never named.
As of the NADC data file updated 2026-10-27 02:38 CT and FEC bulk files; built 2026-10-27 03:20 CT.
All organizations, 2015-16 cycle (gross)
$36,510,258
3,733 organizations
Net of transfers between organizations
$30,767,981
each dollar counted once
Top 25 shown (Direct (own spending & gifts to candidates))
$16,598,248
All levels · Any origin
Export Top 25 · Verified public filings (25 rows ready)
Top 25 at a glance
$3,941,553
$2,687,270
$2,165,427
$1,456,062
$804,238
$749,282
$741,044
$619,858
$546,875
$384,084
$377,753
$251,729
$242,502
$189,250
$180,500
$155,300
$152,305
$151,000
$138,401
$128,900
$117,504
$110,472
$103,616
$103,322
$100,000
Bars are teal-green unless a party affiliation is filed (FEC committee party, or party named in a filed party committee name): Dollar amount (no party filed)RepublicanDemocraticLibertarian
| # | Organization | Type | Direct amount | Gross in | Via documented intermediaries | Origin | Top recipients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DCCC Democratic FEC filings ↗ · FEC committee ID · party: FEC committee party affiliation | Party committee | $3,941,553 | $3,941,553 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: DC | Ashford, Brad (US House NE-02) (support) ($1,535,999); NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ($1,254,551); Bacon, Donald (US House NE-02) (oppose) ($927,659); Maxwell, Chip (US House NE-02) (oppose) ($217,025) +1 more |
| 2 | NRCC Republican FEC filings ↗ · FEC committee ID · party: FEC committee party affiliation Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| Party committee | $2,687,270 | $3,003,770 | $316,500 | Outside NE FEC committee address: DC | Ashford, Brad (US House NE-02) (oppose) ($2,675,395); NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN PARTY ($316,500); BACON, DONALD ($10,000); Bacon, Donald (US House NE-02) (support) ($1,875) |
| 3 | RETAIN A JUST NEBRASKA NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| Ballot question committee | $2,165,427 | $2,188,114 | $22,687 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($2,165,427); NEBRASKANS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ($18,544); CATHOLIC MOBILIZING NETWORK NEBRASKA ($4,143) |
| 4 | NEBRASKANS FOR THE DEATH PENALTY INC NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | Ballot question committee | $1,456,062 | $1,456,062 | $0 | Unknown no state in filings | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($1,454,211); NE REPUBLICAN PARTY ($1,850) |
| 5 | NEBRASKANS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY NADC filings ↗ · NADC filer ID | Ballot question committee | $804,238 | $804,238 | $0 | Unknown no state in filings | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($804,238) |
| 6 | ESAFUND FEC filings ↗ · spender name matches filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | Independent expenditure / Super PAC | $749,282 | $749,282 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: FL | Bacon, Donald (US House NE-02) (support) ($749,282) |
| 7 | HOUSE MAJORITY PAC FEC filings ↗ · spender name matches filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | Independent expenditure / Super PAC | $741,044 | $741,044 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: DC | Bacon, Donald (US House NE-02) (oppose) ($741,044) |
| 8 | NE STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PAC NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| PAC | $619,858 | $657,808 | $37,950 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | CITIZENS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW ($120,000); SURVEY NEBRASKA ($70,000); JAMES GORDON ($39,800); RICHARD KOLOWSKI ($39,073) +62 more |
| 9 | DNC SERVICES CORP./DEM. NAT'L COMMITTEE Democratic FEC filings ↗ · FEC committee ID · party: FEC committee party affiliation | Party committee | $546,875 | $546,875 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: DC | NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ($546,875) |
| 10 | KEEP THE MONEY IN NEBRASKA NADC filings ↗ · NADC filer ID | Ballot question committee | $384,084 | $384,084 | $0 | Unknown no state in filings | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($384,084) |
| 11 | CULAC THE PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FEC filings ↗ · FEC committee ID | PAC | $377,753 | $377,753 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: DC | Ashford, Brad (US House NE-02) (support) ($349,753); ASHFORD, BRAD ($10,000); SMITH, ADRIAN ($9,000); BACON, DONALD ($5,000) +1 more |
| 12 | NE REALTORS PAC NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| PAC | $251,729 | $252,029 | $300 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | ANDREW STEBBING ($11,025); CHRIS BEUTLER ($10,000); TOMMY GARRETT ($10,000); JEAN STOTHERT ($10,000) +80 more |
| 13 | FRIENDS OF SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE NADC filings ↗ · NADC filer ID | Ballot question committee | $242,502 | $242,502 | $0 | Unknown no state in filings | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($242,502) |
| 14 | AGC PAC (HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PAC) NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | PAC | $189,250 | $189,250 | $0 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | LES SEILER ($23,000); SARA HOWARD ($12,500); RICHARD KOLOWSKI ($11,500); GERALD JOHNSON ($11,500) +43 more |
| 15 | RICKETTS no filer record · name only ⚑ Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| Business / nonprofit | $180,500 | $605,500 | $425,000 | Nebraska 99% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | NEBRASKANS FOR THE DEATH PENALTY INC ($425,000); JEAN STOTHERT ($15,000); MICHAEL HILGERS ($15,000); SUZANNE GEIST ($15,000) +32 more |
| 16 | NE ASSOCIATION OF TRIAL ATTORNEYS -PAC NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | PAC | $155,300 | $155,300 | $0 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | CITIZENS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW ($37,500); JILL BROWN ($14,000); SUE CRAWFORD ($10,000); RICHARD KOLOWSKI ($9,000) +20 more |
| 17 | ENDING SPENDING, INC. FEC filings ↗ · spender name matches filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | Independent expenditure / Super PAC | $152,305 | $152,305 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: VA | Bacon, Donald (US House NE-02) (support) ($152,305) |
| 18 | SWAIN CONSTRUCTION INC. NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | Business | $151,000 | $151,000 | $0 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | AIMEE MELTON ($40,000); JEAN STOTHERT ($31,500); JOHN PETER RICKETTS ($22,500); PETE FESTERSEN ($10,000) +7 more |
| 19 | NE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY PAC NADC filings ↗ · contributor name matches NADC filer name (name-only match) ⚑ Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| PAC | $138,401 | $138,701 | $300 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | SUZANNE GEIST ($14,500); GREGORY NEUHAUS ($12,000); TOMMY GARRETT ($10,871); MICHAEL HILGERS ($10,500) +51 more |
| 20 | GEORGIA FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE Democratic FEC filings ↗ · FEC committee ID · party: FEC committee party affiliation | Party committee | $128,900 | $128,900 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: GA | NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ($128,900) |
| 21 | VOTE YES FOR WESTSIDE KIDS COMMITTEE (DISSOLVED) NADC filings ↗ · NADC filer ID | Ballot question committee | $117,504 | $117,504 | $0 | Unknown no state in filings | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($117,504) |
| 22 | COMMITTEE TO GET THE JOB DONE NADC filings ↗ · NADC filer ID | Ballot question committee | $110,472 | $110,472 | $0 | Unknown no state in filings | (Ballot measure campaign spending) ($110,472) |
| 23 | CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND FEC filings ↗ · spender name matches filer name (name-only match) ⚑ | PAC | $103,616 | $103,616 | $0 | Outside NE FEC committee address: DC | Ashford, Brad (US House NE-02) (oppose) ($103,616) |
| 24 | COOK no filer record · name only ⚑ Chain hopsMoney passed to other organizations that then spent in Nebraska (counted once, at the end of the chain):
| Business / nonprofit | $103,322 | $103,822 | $500 | Nebraska 100% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | JONATHAN COOK ($79,122); MICHAEL COOK ($23,700); JOHN PETER RICKETTS ($500); RETAIN A JUST NEBRASKA ($500) |
| 25 | AMERICAN WIND ACTION no filer record · name only ⚑ | Business / nonprofit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $0 | Outside NE 0% of dated amounts list a Nebraska address | RICHARD YODER ($100,000) |
⚑ name-only match: the contributor name on a filing matches a registered filer's name, but no ID links them; such matches are flagged and never used to merge differently named organizations. Direct counts only what an organization itself gave to candidates and non-ranked committees or spent on independent expenditures / ballot campaigns; money it gave to another ranked organization is counted at that organization instead. Via pass-through credits an intermediary's spending to its documented organizational funders in proportion to their share of its filed receipts. See methodology.