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2014 post-election ballot measure campaign contributions
Quick stats
A total of 158 ballot questions were certified for 42 statewide ballots in 2014; however, only 75 ballot measures had any type of campaign finance activity. A total of $467,470,303 was contributed to ballot measures in 2014, according to official reports filed as of December 2014.
Statewide
- Highest statewide contributions: California - $201,082,868
- Lowest statewide contributions: New York - $376,838
Measures
Top five:
- California Proposition 46 - $70,228,481
- California Proposition 45 - $63,228,328
- Colorado Amendment 68 - $35,578,228
- Oregon Measure 92 - $32,137,856
- California Proposition 48 - $22,529,777
Bottom five:
- Missouri Amendment 5 - $13,958
- Missouri Amendment 9 - $11,899
- North Dakota Measure 8 - $2,150
- North Dakota Measure 3 - $1,600
- Missouri Amendment 8 - $993
Measure rankings
The following are the rankings for total contributions made, both by supporting and opposing campaigns, toward each ballot measure on special, primary, and general election ballots in 2014. They are ordered from most to least contributed. Ballot measures that did not spur any campaign contributions from either side were not included in the rankings.
| # | Measure | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Proposition 46 | $72,909,684 |
| 2 | California Proposition 45 | $63,889,938 |
| 3 | Colorado Amendment 68 | $35,578,228 |
| 4 | Oregon Measure 92 | $32,137,856 |
| 5 | California Proposition 1 | $21,921,840 |
| 6 | California Proposition 2 | $20,815,262 |
| 7 | California Proposition 48 | $16,354,448 |
| 8 | Massachusetts Question 3 | $16,092,055 |
| 9 | Alaska Ballot Measure 1 | $14,709,692 |
| 10 | Florida Amendment 2 | $14,418,150 |
| 11 | Colorado Proposition 105 | $13,406,622 |
| 12 | Washington Initiative 594 | $11,888,293 |
| 13 | California Proposition 47 | $11,528,291 |
| 14 | Massachusetts Question 2 | $11,226,447 |
| 15 | Oregon Measure 90 | $10,698,155 |
| 16 | Oregon Measure 91 | $9,425,847 |
| 17 | Michigan Proposal 1 (Primary) | $8,498,328 |
| 18 | Nevada Question 3 | $7,547,963 |
| 19 | Florida Amendment 1 | $6,364,719 |
| 20 | Tennessee Amendment 1 | $5,941,603 |
| 21 | Maine Question 1 | $5,473,189 |
| 22 | Washington Initiative 1351 | $4,921,286 |
| 23 | Illinois Minimum Wage Increase Question | $4,356,249 |
| 24 | Missouri Amendment 3 | $4,157,239 |
| # | Measure | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Michigan Proposals 1 and 2 (General) | $3,997,874 |
| 26 | Massachusetts Question 1 | $3,038,818 |
| 27 | Colorado Amendment 67 | $2,921,685 |
| 28 | Arkansas Issue 4 | $2,419,175 |
| 29 | North Dakota Measure 7 | $2,097,617 |
| 30 | Massachusetts Question 4 | $2,080,200 |
| 31 | Missouri Amendment 7 | $2,071,780 |
| 32 | Hawaii Amendment 4 | $1,662,285 |
| 33 | Missouri Amendment 1 | $1,630,305 |
| 34 | South Dakota Initiated Measure 17 | $1,575,792 |
| 35 | North Dakota Measure 1 | $1,410,119 |
| 36 | North Dakota Measure 5 | $1,376,325 |
| 37 | Nebraska Initiative 425 | $1,359,499 |
| 38 | Washington Initiative 591 | $1,268,760 |
| 39 | North Dakota Measure 2 | $1,174,106 |
| 40 | Alabama Amendment 1 | $1,149,112 |
| 41 | Rhode Island Question 1 | $1,144,931 |
| 42 | Alaska Ballot Measure 2 | $1,077,729 |
| 43 | Tennessee Amendment 2 | $773,551 |
| 44 | Missouri Amendment 6 | $745,450 |
| 45 | Oregon Measure 88 | $694,435 |
| 46 | Arizona Proposition 122 | $683,174 |
| 47 | Oregon Measure 89 | $658,101 |
| 48 | California Proposition 42 | $647,254 |
| 49 | California Proposition 41 | $632,326 |
| # | Measure | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Illinois Birth Control Coverage Question | $574,750 |
| 51 | Hawaii Amendment 2 | $505,400 |
| 52 | Rhode Island Question 4 | $480,800 |
| 53 | Arkansas Issue 5 | $471,010 |
| 54 | Arkansas Issue 3 | $449,428 |
| 55 | Wisconsin Question 1 | $417,831 |
| 56 | Colorado Proposition 104 | $392,102 |
| 57 | Tennessee Amendment 3 | $240,521 |
| 58 | Rhode Island Question 3 | $208,300 |
| 59 | New York Proposal 3 | $200,050 |
| 60 | Alaska Ballot Measure 3 | $159,623 |
| 61 | Rhode Island Question 5 | $146,900 |
| 62 | Arizona Proposition 303 | $124,084 |
| 63 | North Dakota Measure 6 | $96,850 |
| 64 | Oregon Measure 86 | $91,575 |
| 65 | South Dakota Initiated Measure 18 | $85,550 |
| 66 | New York Proposal 1 | $83,275 |
| 67 | Rhode Island Question 7 | $57,256 |
| 68 | Missouri Amendment 2 | $52,611 |
| 69 | South Dakota Amendment Q | $50,000 |
| 70 | Missouri Amendment 5 | $13,958 |
| 71 | Missouri Amendment 9 | $11,899 |
| 72 | North Dakota Measure 8 | $2,150 |
| 73 | North Dakota Measure 3 | $1,600 |
| 74 | Missouri Amendment 8 | $993 |
By state
The table below lists all 42 states that featured ballot measures in 2014 and highlights those that had monetary contributions made to ballot measures in 2014 to both supporting and opposing political action committees prior to the November 4 election. Totals featured in the chart below are rounded up to the nearest dollar. The number of measures per state reflects the number of measures that had campaign contribution activity, not necessarily the total number of measures featured on 2014 ballots in the state.
|
Legend State with most contributions States with no reported contributions |
| State | # of measures per state | Support | Opposition | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | $1,149,112 | $0 | $1,149,112 |
| Alaska | 3 | $1,544,943 | $14,402,101 | $15,947,044 |
| Arizona | 2 | $801,319 | $5,939 | $807,258 |
| Arkansas | 3 | $471,010 | $2,868,603 | $3,339,613 |
| California | 8 | $63,611,858 | $137,471,010 | $201,082,868 |
| Colorado | 4 | $20,414,068 | $31,884,570 | $52,298,638 |
| Connecticut | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Florida | 2 | $14,433,937 | $6,348,932 | $20,782,869 |
| Georgia | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $1,892,685 | $275,000 | $2,167,685 |
| Idaho | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Illinois | 2 | $4,930,999 | $0 | $4,930,999 |
| Kansas | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Louisiana | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Maine | 1 | $3,047,203 | $2,425,986 | $5,473,189 |
| Maryland | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $4,448,517 | $27,989,003 | $32,437,520 |
| Michigan | 3 | $9,326,254 | $3,169,948 | $12,496,202 |
| Mississippi | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Missouri | 8 | $5,783,168 | $2,901,067 | $8,684,235 |
| Montana | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $1,359,499 | $0 | $1,359,499 |
| Nevada | 1 | $1,888,204 | $5,659,759 | $7,547,963 |
| New Jersey | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| New Mexico | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| New York | 2 | $289,623 | $87,215 | $376,838 |
| North Carolina | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| North Dakota | 7 | $4,684,730 | $1,474,037 | $6,158,767 |
| Ohio | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Oregon | 6 | $31,005,583 | $22,700,386 | $53,705,970 |
| Rhode Island | 5 | $1,678,707 | $359,480 | $2,038,187 |
| South Carolina | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| South Dakota | 3 | $1,030,242 | $681,100 | $1,711,342 |
| Tennessee | 3 | $2,675,499 | $4,280,176 | $6,955,675 |
| Texas | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Utah | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Virginia | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Washington | 3 | $17,475,359 | $602,980 | $18,078,339 |
| West Virginia | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $417,831 | $0 | $417,831 |
| Wyoming | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | 75 | $194,360,350 | $265,587,292 | $459,947,643 |
Top contributors
The following lists organizations and individuals who gave the most money—$5 million or more—to ballot measure campaigns in 2014:
Who gave the big bucks?
- Mile High USA, Inc. gave $19,316,254 in support of Colorado Amendment 68.
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc./KP Financial Services gave $18,866,574 in opposition to California Proposition 45.
- Wellpoint, Inc. and Affiliated Entities gave $18,866,574 in opposition to California Proposition 45.
- Blue Shield of California gave $12,350,200 in opposition to California Proposition 45.
- Table Mountain Rancheria gave $12,263,327 in opposition to California Proposition 48.
- Norcal Mutual Insurance Company gave $11,000,000 in opposition to California Proposition 46.
- The Doctors Company gave $10,501,200 in opposition to California Proposition 46.
- Cooperative of American Physicians Independent Expenditure Committee gave $10,203,970 in opposition to California Proposition 46.
- American Beverage Association gave $8,262,364 in opposition to Massachusetts Question 2.
- Penn National Gaming Inc. gave $6,662,327 in opposition to Massachusetts Question 3.
- Health Net, Inc. gave $6,592,100 in opposition to California Proposition 45.
- MGM Resorts International gave $5,357,400 in opposition to Massachusetts Question 3.
- California Medical Association Physicians' Issues Committee gave $5,287,906 in opposition to California Proposition 46.
- Brown for Governor 2014 gave $5,196,529 in support of California Proposition 1 and California Proposition 2.
- Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa Black Hawk gave $5,118,460 in opposition to Colorado Amendment 68.
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. gave $5,000,000 in opposition to California Proposition 46.
- Medical Insurance Exchange of California gave $5,000,000 in opposition to California Proposition 46.
- Monsanto gave $5,000,000 in opposition to Oregon Measure 92.
- Sheldon Adelson gave $5,000,000 in opposition to Florida Amendment 2.
By topic
The table below displays the topics that appeared on the ballot in 2014. Each ballot measure is assigned a primary and, depending on the issue, various subtopics. The primary topics listed below are organized by the number of measures that featured that particular topic, the states where those measures appeared, and the amount raised. The topic that garnered the most contributions—healthcare—is listed first, the one with the least contributions—lottery—is last.
| # | Topic | # of measures |
States | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthcare | 3 | IL, AZ | $73,608,518 |
| 2 | Gambling | 5 | CO, CA, MA, RI, SD | $69,219,662 |
| 3 | Insurance | 2 | CA, SD | $65,465,730 |
| 4 | Business regulation | 4 | OR, CO, ND, AL | $48,791,207 |
| 5 | Taxes | 7 | AK, MI, NV, MO, ND, TN | $38,657,533 |
| 6 | Marijuana | 3 | FL, OR, AK | $24,921,726 |
| 7 | Bonds | 7 | CA, HI, RI, NY | $23,944,572 |
| 8 | Gov't finances | 2 | CA, WI | $21,233,093 |
| 9 | Environment | 2 | MA, FL | $17,591,166 |
| 10 | Firearms | 3 | WA, MO | $13,171,011 |
| 11 | Criminal trials | 2 | CA, MO | $11,580,902 |
| 12 | Elections | 1 | OR | $11,443,605 |
| 13 | Abortion | 3 | TN, CO, ND | $10,273,407 |
| 14 | Hunting and fishing | 3 | MI, ME | $9,471,063 |
| 15 | Education | 5 | WA, HI, OR, ND | $6,678,896 |
| 16 | Minimum wage | 5 | IL, NE, AR, AK, SD | $6,431,931 |
| 17 | Labor | 2 | MO, MA | $6,237,439 |
| 18 | Alcohol | 1 | AL | $2,419,175 |
| 19 | Agriculture | 1 | MO | $1,630,305 |
| 20 | Gov't accountability | 2 | CA, CO | $1,039,356 |
| 21 | Judiciary | 1 | TN | $773,551 |
| 22 | Immigration | 1 | OR | $694,435 |
| 23 | Federal constitutional issues | 1 | AZ | $683,174 |
| 24 | Constitutional rights | 2 | OR, MO | $670,000 |
| 25 | Term limits | 1 | AR | $449,428 |
| 26 | Constitutional Conventions | 1 | RI | $208,300 |
| 27 | Divorce and custody | 1 | ND | $96,850 |
| 28 | Redistricting | 1 | NY | $83,275 |
| 29 | Lottery | 1 | MO | $993 |
By type
There are several avenues by which measures may qualify for the ballot: citizen initiative, legislative referral, automatic ballot measure, or commission-referral. The chart below organizes 2014's ballot measures by type or process by which each measure qualified for the ballot. Each avenue or type of measure includes varying requirements, which additionally vary by state. (See also: Forms of direct democracy.) The measures are listed in order of most campaign finance contributions to least.
| By type summary | |
|---|---|
| Initiatives[1] | $345,196,985 |
| Veto referendums (VR) | $35,756,449 |
| Legislative referrals[2] | $81,377,570 |
| Commission-referrals | $0 |
| Automatic ballot referrals (ABR) | $208,300 |
| Advisory questions (AQ) | $4,930,999 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Included under "Initiatives" are indirect initiated state statutes (IndISS), initiated constitutional amendments (ICA), initiated state statutes (ISS), initiatives to the legislature (ITL), and initiatives to the people (ITP).
- ↑ Included in the "Legislative-referred measures" category are legislative bond measures (LBM), bonds (BI), legislative-referred state statutes (LRSS), and legislatively referred constitutional amendments (LRCA).
Raw data
The chart below includes all of the information available on the "by state," "by topic," and "by type" tabs. It is automatically sorted to show the measure that gained the most contributions to the measure that gained the least. However, you can sort the data by clicking on the arrows directly above the column you would like re-ordered.
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