The Lincoln Project spent $49M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings with varying coverage dates; the most common larger-campaign cutoff is Dec 31, 2020). Among dollars with a matched election-stage result, 73% were on the winning side ($36M won, $13M lost). $31K had no matched result and is excluded.
Outside spending
$49M
Winning share of scored dollars
73%
$49M scored (100% of spending); $31K unknown
On the losing side
$13M
Supporting vs attacking
17% / 83%
$8.1M for, $41M against
Google says The Lincoln Project also spent $3.1M on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (6% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
The donor records in this snapshot trace $54M to The Lincoln Project. This is incomplete funding coverage; percentages below refer only to these traced gifts. The allocation denominator is $87M.
- Majority ForwardDark money$1.4M (3%)
- Gordon GettyIndividual$1.0M (2%)
- Stephen MandelIndividual$1.0M (2%)
- William HarrisIndividual$935K (2%)
- Alfred ClarkIndividual$602K (1%)
- David GeffenIndividual$500K (1%)
- Sixteen Thirty FundDark money$300K (1%)
- Louise GundIndividual$300K (1%)
- Arturas KerelisIndividual$250K (0%)
- David DenigerIndividual$205K (0%)
Where the money went
Biggest targets, with whether each one paid off.
✓ Backed the winner or attacked the loser ✗ Backed the loser or attacked the winner Result not matched
| Candidate | Race | Spending | Amount | Paid off? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | President | Attacking | $33M | ✓ Yes |
| Al Gross | Alaska Senate | Supporting | $2.8M | ✗ No |
| Steve Bullock | Montana Senate | Supporting | $2.7M | ✗ No |
| Lindsey Graham | South Carolina Senate | Attacking | $2.4M | ✗ No |
| Joe Biden | President | Supporting | $2.1M | ✓ Yes |
| Susan Margaret Collins | Maine Senate | Attacking | $1.7M | ✗ No |
| Dan Sullivan | Alaska Senate | Attacking | $1.5M | ✗ No |
| Donald Trump | President (primary) | Attacking | $704K | ✗ No |
| Kelly Loeffler | Georgia Senate (special) | Attacking | $558K | ✓ Yes |
| Mitch McConnell | Kentucky Senate (primary) | Attacking | $456K | ✗ No |
| David A. Perdue | Georgia Senate | Attacking | $304K | ✓ Yes |
| Joni Ernst | Iowa Senate | Attacking | $226K | ✗ No |
Questions people ask
- How much did The Lincoln Project spend in 2020, and did it win?
- The Lincoln Project spent $49M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings with varying coverage dates; the most common larger-campaign cutoff is Dec 31, 2020). Among dollars with a matched election-stage result, 73% were on the winning side ($36M won, $13M lost). $31K had no matched result and is excluded.
- Who funds The Lincoln Project?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2020 cycle were Majority Forward ($1.4M), Gordon Getty ($1.0M), Stephen Mandel ($1.0M), William Harris ($935K), Alfred Clark ($602K), out of $54M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did The Lincoln Project spend the most on in 2020?
- against Donald Trump (President, $33M, won); for Al Gross (Alaska Senate, $2.8M, lost); for Steve Bullock (Montana Senate, $2.7M, lost).