2026 candidate · follow the money
Who funds James Hayes?
The money.
- Raised
- $81K
- Spent
- $70K
- Cash on hand
- $11K
- Debts
- $12K
- Individuals 92% $74K
- PACs & other committees 7% $5,775
- Party committees 0.3% $250
- Candidate's own money & loans <0.1% $25
Campaign totals through Oct 14, 2026.
Outside groups: $22 supporting · $0 opposing
Biggest spenders supporting
Largest direct PAC contributions
Who gave.
Who gives $74K from individuals
28% in small-dollar gifts
$21K of $74K came unitemized: from donors whose gifts to the campaign this cycle total $200 or less, whom the campaign does not have to name.
The itemized gifts below add up to $23K of the $54K the campaign reported itemizing through Oct 14, 2026. The FEC has not yet processed the rest into its bulk file, which runs to Jun 30, 2026 for this campaign.
96% from Pennsylvania · 4% from elsewhere
Of itemized gifts, by the state on each donor's mailing address. Giving from other states is lawful and common.
21% of itemized dollars came earmarked through a conduit such as ActBlue or WinRed; each gift is counted once.
Top states
- Pennsylvania $22K
- Mississippi $1,000
Retired, self-employed, not employed or not given: $11K. Employers named by fewer than three donors, or filed as a person's name: $12K, not listed so no one donor is singled out.
Summary through Oct 14, 2026. Itemized gifts dated May 30, 2025 to Jun 30, 2026, net of refunds (35 entries). Every itemized contribution on FEC.gov ↗
From the principal campaign committee's FEC reports; joint-fundraising transfers and later reports are not included, and no donor is named here. A contribution is not evidence of a vote, favor or wrongdoing.
Outside money in the final weeks.
No 24- or 48-hour report in the FEC file read November 4, 2026 names James Hayes. The outside spending shown from regular reports is the latest available.
Where it went.
Where the money went $28K in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $28K of the $70K the campaign reported spending through Oct 14, 2026. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Jun 29, 2026.
- Advertising & outreach 47% $13K
- Consultants & strategy 5% $1,500
- Fundraising & processing fees 17% $4,740
- Travel, meals & events 16% $4,506
- Office, technology & overhead 3% $877
- Legal & compliance 11% $2,975
- Contributions, transfers & refunds 2% $500
Largest payees
- VISTAPRINT $4,482
- STAPLES $3,617
- BISTRO TO GO CATERING $3,164
- RIGHTWAY COMPLIANCE LLC $2,975
- PITTSBURGH JEWISH PUBLICATION EDUCATION FOUNDATION $2,105
Payments dated Feb 6, 2025 to Jun 29, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (59 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
Others who filed for this seat.
- Summer LeeDemocrat · $1.6M raised · $31K outside
- Adam Robert ForgieDemocrat · $28K raised · $4,995 outside
- William ParkerDemocrat · $20K raised
- Leonard Benson FechterRepublican · $17K raised
Questions worth asking.
Money shows who backed a campaign, not how a person will act. Compare it with what they did and said: their votes or official actions if they have held office, their own statements, and their answers to a finding. Use the same questions for every candidate.
FEC bulk data read November 4, 2026. Campaign totals come from each filing's own FEC summary through its latest processed report. Outside spending is independent expenditures itemized in committee reports in the FEC bulk files, primaries included; late 24- and 48-hour reports, party coordinated spending, communication costs and groups that do not report to the FEC are not included. Outside spending is, by law, made without coordinating with the candidate, and it is not the candidate's money. A contribution or expenditure is not evidence of a vote, favor or wrongdoing. This page identifies the filing by its FEC candidate ID; a person can hold more than one filing.