Grading Methodology
The same methodology you see on every candidate profile. House and Senate weights are shown side-by-side where the formula differs.
Applies to House incumbents and challengers. Challengers are graded once they meet the fundraising visibility threshold.
Grade and Methodology
Our Grades
Members of Congress are graded based on a combination of their fundraising breakdown and personal finances.
The Formula
Final Score = base_score + components, floored at 0 (no upper cap)
components = donor + pac + stock + trade + earmark + pac_reliance + ethical + pledges
Donor Score = Σ (bracket_% × bracket_weight), clamped to [floor, cap]
PAC Penalty = −Σ (pac_$ × type_weight), floored at max_penalty
Stock Penalty = −max_penalty × Hill(avg_value)
Trade Penalty = −max_count × Hill(count) − max_value × Hill(value)
Earmark Penalty = −earmark_$ × per_$_weight [excl. ActBlue/WinRed earmarks]
PAC Reliance = −max_penalty × Hill(pac_%)
Ethical Bonus = +points if no_corp_pac / no_stocks
Pledge/Bill Bonus = per category: pledge → pledge_pts, bill only → bill_pts, neither → 0
Our Pledges
Learn about the pledges candidates can take to demonstrate their commitment to political integrity.
View PledgesOur Data
Fundraising data is from the FEC. Stock holding data is from Congressional financial disclosures. Stock trading data is from Congressional periodic transaction reports. Net worth data is from Quiver Quantitative.