iven to a high degree. In 1994, Dianne Feinstein, Senator from California, ran against Michael Huffington, who spent some $25 million of his personal fortune trying to unseat Feinstein and failed, though by such a slim margin that no decision was reached until several days after the election. This was one of the most expensive senatorial campaigns in history, taking place in a large state with a huge media market. The trends, however, is seen across the country.
Legislators spend too much time raising the money they need, and there is a concern that they raise it by appealing to a narrow group of donors and that this fact might influence the way they vote. It is difficult to demonstrate whether this is true or not, for legislators generally do not change the way they vote after a huge donation but instead appeal to those with whom they agree in the first place.
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