This is not an attack page. This is a transparency page. Every dollar amount below comes from public FEC filings and OpenSecrets data. Every fact is sourced. We believe voters are smart enough to look at the numbers and draw their own conclusions.
The question isn't whether politicians take money from corporations and PACs. The question is: who do they work for once they get to Washington?
from PACs (2026 cycle)
Small Donors under $200
Money We Accept
The Comparison
| Metric | Cortney Peterson | Incumbent (OH-11) |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate PAC money | $0 — refuses all | $395,500+ (2026 cycle) |
| Foreign-influence PAC money (AIPAC, etc.) | $0 — refuses all | ~$1.14 million (career) |
| % funded by PACs | 0% | 58.8% (2026 cycle) |
| % funded by small donors (under $200) | 100% grassroots | 3.7% (2026 cycle) |
| Leadership PAC | No | Yes — "Strength in Seven PAC" |
| Career fundraising total | People-powered | $6.09 million+ |
| Super PAC support (career) | None | $5+ million in outside spending |
Sources: FEC.gov — Candidate filings, OpenSecrets — Member summary. All data from publicly available federal election records.
Where the Money Comes From
Here's how the incumbent's campaign funding breaks down across recent election cycles — straight from FEC filings.
2025–2026 Cycle (Current)
Total raised: $672,085
PAC / committee contributions: $395,500 (58.8%)
Individual contributions: $268,084 (39.9%)
Small donors (under $200): $24,539 (3.7%)
Cash on hand: $1,088,668
Source: FEC.gov — through 12/31/2025
2023–2024 Cycle
Total raised: $1,418,292
PAC / committee contributions: $763,803 (53.9%)
Individual contributions: $568,031 (40.0%)
Small donors (under $200): $64,413 (4.5%)
Source: FEC.gov
The Trend
PAC dependency has more than doubled — from 24% in 2022 to 54% in 2024 to nearly 59% in 2026. Small-dollar donations were cut by more than half — from 9.4% to 4.5% to 3.7%. The incumbent's campaign is becoming more corporate-dependent over time, not less.
The AIPAC Question
Pro-Israel lobby spending is the #1 industry contributor in this district. Here's what the public record shows.
Lobby Contributions
America PAC Alone
AIPAC Directly
- Pro-Israel America PAC$700,366
- AIPAC (bundled contributions)$264,290+
- Pro-Israel (2024 cycle only)$124,770
- NorPAC$87,400
Sources: OpenSecrets, FEC.gov, The Intercept
How AIPAC Bundling Works
AIPAC's PAC is legally limited to $5,000 per candidate per election in direct contributions. But AIPAC also operates as a "conduit" — individual donors earmark their contributions through AIPAC to specific candidates, allowing totals far exceeding the PAC limit. This is legal, but it means the actual AIPAC influence is much larger than the direct PAC number suggests.
Outside Spending
Beyond direct contributions, millions in super PAC money has flowed into OH-11. These groups can spend unlimited amounts — and voters should know who's spending it.
2021 Special Election
| Group | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| DMFI PAC (Democratic Majority for Israel) | ~$2.0 million | TV, digital, mailers |
| Pro-Israel America PAC | $623,000 | Bundled contributions |
| Third Way | $255,000 | Digital ads |
| Total pro-incumbent outside spending | ~$2.9 million |
2022 Primary
| Group | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| DMFI PAC | ~$1.0+ million | TV ads, including attack ads |
| United Democracy Project (AIPAC super PAC) | $280,000+ | Ads |
| Protect Our Future (Sam Bankman-Fried crypto PAC) | $1,000,000 | Super PAC support |
| Total pro-incumbent outside spending | ~$2.3 million |
The Pattern
Across just two elections, over $5 million in outside super PAC money was spent to support the incumbent and attack her opponent. DMFI alone spent approximately $3 million total across both races. One of the largest contributors — Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto PAC — was later connected to one of the largest financial fraud cases in American history.
Sources: Ballotpedia, The Intercept, Common Dreams
The Leadership PAC
Members of Congress can create "Leadership PACs" to raise money and distribute it to other politicians — building party influence and political IOUs.
Strength in Seven PAC
FEC ID: C00804153
Registered: February 7, 2022
Career total raised: ~$238,775
2025–2026 spending: $49,386 — of which $45,000 (91%) went to contributions to other candidates and committees. Only $3,886 went to operating expenses.
That means 91 cents of every dollar raised by this Leadership PAC goes to building political power — not serving OH-11.
Source: FEC.gov — Strength in Seven PAC
Two Caucuses, One Vote
The incumbent is simultaneously a member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus (the left wing) and the New Democrat Coalition (the corporate-friendly centrist wing). That's unusual — and worth asking about.
What Does That Mean?
The Congressional Progressive Caucus fights for Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and the Green New Deal. The New Democrat Coalition is backed by corporate interests and advocates for "market-friendly" policies. These groups have fundamentally different views on healthcare, labor rights, and corporate regulation.
Being in both lets a representative claim progressive credentials while maintaining corporate-friendly relationships. Voters deserve clarity about which side their representative is actually on.
Cortney's Pledge
The People's Campaign
Cortney Peterson's campaign accepts zero dollars from:
- ✕ Corporate PACs
- ✕ Foreign-influence PACs (AIPAC, etc.)
- ✕ Big Pharma PACs
- ✕ Fossil Fuel PACs
- ✕ Big Tech / Crypto PACs
This campaign is funded by working people — nurses, teachers, warehouse workers, parents, and neighbors making small-dollar donations. That's who Cortney will answer to in Congress. Period.
Verify It Yourself
Don't take our word for it. Every fact on this page is sourced from public records. Here's where to look:
- FEC.gov — Official filingsView filings →
- OpenSecrets — Member summaryView data →
- FEC.gov — Leadership PACView filings →
- GovTrack — Voting recordView record →
- Ballotpedia — Election dataView profile →