Which industry gives the most money in Utah’s state and local elections? In 2012, it was real estate interests.
Mother Jones breaks down which industries donated the most to non-federal elections in 2012 for each state and came up with this fascinating map.
Using data from www.FollowTheMoney.org, we mapped which industries gave the most to state-level campaign donors for the 2012 election (ballot initiatives and party PACs excluded) and limited our search to the top business in each state. We also excluded unions, law firms, and nonprofits, since political giving from these entities can be associated with a variety of industries.
It’s important to note that many contributions are made by individuals, and an individual donor’s industry or occupation is not necessarily connected to their giving. We could expect gifts under the category of “Health,” for instance, to include both donations from hospital chains and the personal contributions of doctors and nurses.
