Danielle Thomsen

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The money chase: In congressional primaries and general elections, the top fundraiser wins 92% of the time. @daniellethomsen.bsky.social finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
opiniontoday.substack.com/i/177548584/...

Big thanks to @mattgrossmann.bsky.social for the invitation to discuss my new book!

Opinion: Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact' Washington University in St. Louis has built its reputation on a simple ideal: excellence wins. For decades, our researchers have competed for and won federal grants based on the quality

New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.

“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”

Great turnout on pacific coast highway. Deeply moved by support for democracy, science, and the values that set America apart.

Thanks Tim!

Thanks for the plug, Bruce!

I just finished reading this book. It is terrific.

The Money Signal A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential.  Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...

As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.

press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...

BJPolS abstract discussing trends in congressional election dropouts in the United States from 1980 to 2022, analyzing data on 26,000 candidates and exploring strategic exit motivations.

#OpenAccess from Augusts 2025 -

Early Money and Strategic Candidate Exit - cup.org/3HnnDBk

"exit of experienced candidates has important implications for the choices that voters have"

- @daniellethomsen.bsky.social

The emphasis on dollars has a variety of implications for American democracy:
-- excludes those without access to deep pockets
-- dominates the day-to-day activity of running for office
-- campaign resources are highly unequal
-- moves representation beyond the district

Unsurprisingly, candidates who raise more money are more successful at the ballot box, and one chapter explores the advantages in primary elections in particular.

But the broader aim is to rethink the value of money in American politics long before and well after election day.

Candidates also spend a lot of time dialing for dollars. A survey of House candidates shows that those with prior office experience spend more time on fundraising than on other campaign activities.

And top fundraisers raise a lot more early money today, especially in favorable environments like open seat races.

Candidates raise money earlier and earlier in the cycle (in both earlier and later primaries).

Quote from House candidate: “The advice that you get all the time is that the only thing that matters is raising money. That definitely gets into your head. It becomes the only thing you think about when you go to bed, and it becomes the only thing you think about when you get up in the morning."

Scholars have analyzed the effect of money on the behavior of lawmakers and on election outcomes. The goal here is to suggest that the power of money is broader. Turning to fundraising as a focal point sheds new light on why candidates and lawmakers care so much about fundraising.

Candidates say that fundraising is important, and drop out if they struggle to raise money. Journalists report on who leads in campaign receipts. Donors support candidates who are better fundraisers. Party leaders reward lawmakers who contribute more to the party team.

Candidates, donors, journalists, and party leaders coordinate around fundraising as a focal point.

Chapters detail the impact of money on:
-- candidate perceptions and behavior
-- newspaper coverage
-- subsequent donor support
-- allocation of party rewards in office

The Money Signal A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential.  Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...

As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.

press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...

CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

Fundamentals of Solidarity: Race-Based Caucus Organizing in Houston - Elizabeth Jordie Davies, 2025 Grassroots organizations often espouse multiracial solidarity as a value but struggle with putting this value into practice. How can organizations, especially t...

New article: "Fundamentals of Solidarity: Race-Based Caucus Organizing in Houston" is live at Urban Affairs Review. I'm grateful to the organizers who let me into their world and work so we could produce this piece. Check it out 👇

What do you have to do to a person to make them behave like this? What brings a person to a point in their life where they’re gleefully inflicting lawless, unjust violence like this?

Opinion | The W.N.B.A. Is Making More Money Than Ever. Why Aren’t the Players? Other professional sports leagues give their players roughly 50 percent of the revenue, but the W.N.B.A. players get less than 10 percent.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

“By many measures, it’s been the most successful season in league history” for the WNBA, David Berri, a sports economist, writes. “But the players aren’t fully sharing in that success.”

Excellent overview

The Fundraising-Industrial Complex Is Eating American Politics New data reveals campaigns burn about a third of donations raised just asking for more donations

Political campaigns now burn 30¢ of every dollar raised just fundraising for more dollars (up from 9¢ in 2004).

In 2024, $3 Billion was spent on fundraising.

In 2026, fundraising costs are on track to exceed advertising spending for the first time.

The Fundraising-Industrial Complex Is Eating American Politics New data reveals campaigns burn about a third of donations raised just asking for more donations

"When nearly one-third of all political contributions get recycled back into asking for more contributions, we've created a system that exists primarily to perpetuate itself while enriching fundraising consultants." data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-fundra...

Trump Is Shutting Down the War On Cancer America’s cancer research system, which has helped save millions of lives, is under threat in one of its most productive moments.

“It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” America’s cancer research system, which has helped save millions of lives and is in one of its most productive moments, is under threat by the Trump administration.

The Money Signal A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential.  Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...

Danielle Thomsen's (@daniellethomsen.bsky.social) The Money Signal will change how you think about the function of money in US elections. A must-read! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...