Pennsylvania campaign finance tracker

A Post-Gazette/PublicSource collaboration cataloging campaign finance figures for the 2014 gubernatorial election (and beyond!)

Requirements

• An Apache server with PHP installed and mod_rewrite enabled
• MySQL

Installation

Rough and dirty right now. We'll update this later with in-depth instructions.

• Navigate to the empty HTML root of the your server (commonly /var/www/html/.
• Grab our code using curl: curl -L -O https://github.com/arm5077/pa-campaign-finance/tarball/master.
• Unpack the tarball with tar -zxvf master.
• Copy the contents of the unpacked directory with cp -r arm5077-pa-campaign-finance-abcdefg/* .. (You might have to chmod 775 . first, and make sure you use the real folder name.)
• After setting up your MySQL server, run /sql/init.sql, upload your campaign finance data, and run /sql/add-contributor-id.sql.

API

Access campaign finance data in machine-readble format whenever you'd like! No rate limits yet, but don't push us.

Base URL on our end is http://priceoftheprize.publicsource.org/api.

Univeral parameters

You can use these parameters for any API query (though they'll be redundent for some endpoints).

• contributorname=[string]
  Filters by contributor name (wildcarded).
  Example: contributions/?contributorname=andrew
• filername=[string]
  Filters by filer name (wildcarded).
  Example: contributions/?filername=corbett
• contributor_city=[string]
  Filters by contributor's listed city (wildcarded).
  Example: contributions/?contributor_city=pittsburgh
• contributor_zip=[string]
  Filters by contributor's listed zip code (wildcarded).
  Example: contributions/?contributor_zip=15222
• county=[string]
  Filters by contributor's listed county (wildcarded).
  Example: contributions/?county=phila
• employer=[string]
  Filters by contributor's employer's name (wildcarded).
  Example: contributions/?employer=US Steel
  • startDate=[YYYY-MM-DD]
    Filters for contributions made after (and including) specified date.
    Example: contributions/?startDate=2014-06-01
  • endDate=[YYYY-MM-DD]
    Filters for contributions made before (and including) specified date.
    Example: contributions/?endDate=2014-10-01
  • startAmount=[integer]
    Filters for contributions over (but including) specified amount.
    Example: contributions/?startAmount=1000
  • endAmount=[integer]
    Filters for contributions under (but including) specified amount.
    Example: contributions/?endAmount=2500
• limit=[integer]
  Sets limit of returned records.
  Example: contributions/?limit=50
• offset=[integer]
  Skips ahead first x returned records.
  Example: contributions/?offset=2500

##Show contributions Returns json listing either a collection of contributions, or a single contribution specified by an id.

• URL

  /contributions

  /contributions/:contributor-id

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /contributors/:contributor-id
    Filters by specific contributor.
    Example: contributions/contributors/324
  • /filers/:filerid
    Filters by specific PAC or candidate.
    Example: contributions/filers/2009216
  • /candidates/:candidate-name
    Filters by specific candidate, using filerid.
    Example: contributions/candidates/2009216
  • /counties/:county
    Filters by county, using county name.
    Example: contributions/counties/allegheny
  • /states/:state
    Filters by state, using state abbreviation.
    Example: contributions/states/PA

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [SQL QUERY STRING],
        "results": [
             {
                 "id": "5147",
                 "contribution": "75000",
                 "contributor": "Ross, Feller, Casey, LLP",
                 "contributorid": "10118",
                 "county": "Philadelphia County",
                 "name": "Tom Wolf for Governor",
                 "filerid": "20130153",
                 "date": "2014-09-15",
                 "description": ""
             },
             {
                 "id": "1883",
                 "contribution": "150",
                 "contributor": "Allan C. Seigle",
                 "contributorid": "231",
                 "county": "Allegheny County",
                 "name": "Tom Corbett for Governor",
                 "filerid": "2009216",
                 "date": "2014-09-15",
                 "description": ""
             },
            ...
        ]
    }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/contributions/10",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });

  ##Show contributors Returns json listing either a collection of contributors, or a single contributor specified by an name.

• URL

  /contributors

  /contributors/:contributor-id

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /filers/:filerid
    Filters to contributors who have given to a specific PAC or candidate.
    Example: contributors/filers/2001167
  • /candidates/:candidate-id
    Filters to contributors who have given to a specific candidate, using their filerid.
    Example: contributors/candidates/20130153

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [SQL QUERY STRING],
        "results": [
             {
                 "contributor": "Thomas W. Wolf",
                 "contributorid": "11333",
                 "address": "Po Box 504",
                 "address2": "",
                 "city": "Mount Wolf",
                 "state": "PA",
                 "zip": "17347",
                 "county": "York County",
                 "occupation": "Candidate",
                 "empName": "Candidate",
                 "empAddress1": "Ste 200",
                 "empCity": "York",
                 "empState": "PA",
                 "empZip": "17401",
                 "contributions": "3",
                 "amount": "9981192",
                 "beneficiaries": [
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Wolf for Governor",
                         "filerid": "20130153",
                         "contributions": "3",
                         "amount": "9981192"
                     }
                 ]
             },
             {
                 "contributor": "Republican Governors Association PAC",
                 "contributorid": "9153",
                 "address": "1747 Pennsylvania Ave., Nw",
                 "address2": "SUITE 250",
                 "city": "Washington",
                 "state": "DC",
                 "zip": "20006",
                 "county": "District of Columbia",
                 "occupation": "",
                 "empName": "",
                 "empAddress1": "",
                 "empCity": "",
                 "empState": "",
                 "empZip": "",
                 "contributions": "5",
                 "amount": "5820028",
                 "beneficiaries": [
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Corbett for Governor",
                         "filerid": "2009216",
                         "contributions": "5",
                         "amount": "5820028"
                     }
                 ]
             }
    		 ...
        ]
    }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/contributors/543",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });

  ##Show candidates Returns json listing either a collection of candidates, or a single candidate specified by a filerid.

• URL

  /candidates

  /candidates/:filerid

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /contributors/:contributor-id
    Filters to candidates who have received donations from a specific contributor.
    Example: candidates/contributors/312

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [QUERY SQL HERE],
       "results": [
             {
                 "name": "Tom Corbett",
                 "filerid": "2009216",
                 "party": "REP",
                 "year": "2014",
                 "race": "GOV",
                 "bio": "Thomas W. Corbett, 65, is Pennsylvania's 46th governor. He previously won election twice as the state's attorney general.",
                 "address1": "P O BOX 1145",
                 "address2": "",
                 "city": "HARRISBURG",
                 "state": "PA",
                 "zip": "17108",
                 "phone": "6105651120",
                 "total": "20597469.666139603",
                 "average": "1575.8143727442125",
                 "count": "13071"
             },
             {
                 "name": "Tom Wolf",
                 "filerid": "20130153",
                 "party": "DEM",
                 "year": "2014",
                 "race": "GOV",
                 "bio": "Thomas W. Wolf, 65, is a York businessman who previously headed the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.",
                 "address1": "102 North George St",
                 "address2": "",
                 "city": "York",
                 "state": "PA",
                 "zip": "17401",
                 "phone": "7176501912",
                 "total": "27615307.876151085",
                 "average": "3715.2304421029307",
                 "count": "7433"
             }
         ]
     }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/candidates/2009216",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });

##Show filers Returns json listing either a collection of PACS and candidate committees who have filed finance reports, or a single filer specified by a filerid.

• URL

  /filers

  /filers/:filerid

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /contributors/:contributor-id
    Filters to filers who have received donations from a specific contributor.
    Example: filers/contributors/andrew mcgill

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [QUERY SQL],
        "results": [
             {
                 "name": "FirstEnergy Corp. Political Action Committee",
                 "filerid": "2000081",
                 "type": "2",
                 "office": "",
                 "district": "",
                 "party": "",
                 "address1": "76 South Main Street",
                 "address2": "",
                 "city": "Akron",
                 "state": "OH",
                 "zip": "44308",
                 "county": "",
                 "phone": "0"
             },
             {
                 "name": "RE-ELECT ANGEL CRUZFOR THE 180TH",
                 "filerid": "2000085",
                 "type": "2",
                 "office": "STH",
                 "district": "180",
                 "party": "DEM",
                 "address1": "133 E WESTMORELAND ST",
                 "address2": "",
                 "city": "PHILADELPHIA",
                 "state": "PA",
                 "zip": "19134",
                 "county": "51",
                 "phone": "2154235610"
             },
    		 ...
         ]
     }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/filers/2009216",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });

  ##Show counties Returns json listing either a collection of counties home to donors, or a single county specified by a name.

• URL

  /counties

  /counties/:county-name

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /counties/:contributor-id
    Filters to filers who have received donations from a specific contributor.
    Example: counties/contributors/324
  • /filers/:filerid
    Filters by specific PAC or candidate.
    Example: counties/filers/2009216
  • /candidates/:candidate-name
    Filters by specific candidate, using filerid.
    Example: contributions/candidates/2009216
  • /states/:state
    Filters by state, using state abbreviation.
    Example: counties/states/PA

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [QUERY SQL],
        "results": [
             {
                 "county": "Adams County",
                 "state": "PA",
                 "contributions": 145,
                 "amount": 39917.320000172,
                 "beneficiaries": [
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Corbett for Governor",
                         "filerid": "2009216",
                         "party": "REP",
                         "contributions": "84",
                         "amount": "13136"
                     },
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Wolf for Governor",
                         "filerid": "20130153",
                         "party": "DEM",
                         "contributions": "61",
                         "amount": "26781.32000017166"
                     }
                 ]
             },
             {
                 "county": "Adams County",
                 "state": "WI",
                 "contributions": "2",
                 "amount": "1250",
                 "beneficiaries": [
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Corbett for Governor",
                         "filerid": "2009216",
                         "party": "REP",
                         "contributions": "2",
                         "amount": "1250"
                     }
                 ]
             }
         ]
     }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/counties/allegheny county",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });

  ##Show months Returns json listing a collection of months (0-11) and the amount raised in each, or a single month marked by an integer.

• URL

  /months

  /months/:month-number

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /months/:contributor-id
    Filters to filers who have received donations from a specific contributor.
    Example: months/contributors/324
  • /filers/:filerid
    Filters by specific PAC or candidate.
    Example: months/filers/2009216
  • /candidates/:candidate-name
    Filters by specific candidate, using filerid.
    Example: months/candidates/2009216
  • /counties/:countiy
    Filters by county, using county name.
    Example: months/counties/allegheny county
  • /states/:state
    Filters by state, using state abbreviation.
    Example: months/states/PA

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [QUERY SQL],
        "results": [
             {
                 "month": "0",
                 "year": "0",
                 "total": "541010.3125",
                 "count": "2"
             },
             {
                 "month": "1",
                 "year": "2013",
                 "total": "61080",
                 "count": "17"
             },
    	     ...
         ]
     }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/months/3",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });

  ##Show states Returns json listing a collection of states and the amount raised in each, or a single state marked its abbreviation.

• URL

  /states

  /states/:state

• Method:

  GET

• URL Paths

  • /months/:contributor-id
    Filters to filers who have received donations from a specific contributor.
    Example: states/contributors/324
  • /filers/:filerid
    Filters by specific PAC or candidate.
    Example: states/filers/2009216
  • /candidates/:candidate-name
    Filters by specific candidate, using filerid.
    Example: states/candidates/2009216
  • /counties/:county
    Filters by county, using county name.
    Example: states/counties/allegheny county

• Success Response:

  • Code: 200
    Content:

    {
        "sql": [QUERY SQL],
        "results": [
             {
                 "state": "AL",
                 "contributions": "3",
                 "amount": "36000",
                 "beneficiaries": [
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Corbett",
                         "filerid": "2009216",
                         "contributions": "3",
                         "amount": "36000"
                     }
                 ]
             },
             {
                 "state": "AR",
                 "contributions": "3",
                 "amount": "13000",
                 "beneficiaries": [
                     {
                         "name": "Tom Corbett",
                         "filerid": "2009216",
                         "contributions": "3",
                         "amount": "13000"
                     }
                 ]
             },
    	     ...
         ]
     }

• Sample Call:

    $.ajax({
      url: "/states/PA",
      dataType: "json",
      type : "GET",
      success : function(r) {
        console.log(r);
      }
    });