ProPublica Will Run Campaign Finance API with Updates in Real Time
via ProPublica
“The 2016 presidential election is already on track to be the most expensive in history. To help users of campaign finance data keep up with record spending, providing them with immediate updates, today ProPublica launched its Campaign Finance API. First created by the New York Times in 2008, ProPublica has taken over management of the API, which enables access to records filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Under new hosting by the non-profit newsroom, the system will be continuously updated, every 15 minutes, with new electronic filings from candidates and outside groups.
‘A lot of data about federal campaign contributions and expenditures is available, but it’s often difficult to access and navigate,’ said ProPublica news applications developer Derek Willis, who previously maintained the API for the New York Times. ‘The ProPublica Campaign Finance API makes it easy to browse details about specific types of filings and filings for specific dates, and it’s timelier than the FEC’s own API. While the FEC updates its data nightly, ProPublica’s API is updated throughout each day, with information provided minutes after a new filing is submitted.’
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