SMITH, ERICA DANETTE

This measures what share of direct campaign donations came from corporations and PACs versus individual citizens. Higher corporate concentration means special interests have more access — and more leverage.

Independent expenditures (Super PAC spending) don't show up in a candidate's own fundraising — but they're still spent to elect them. High outside money means anonymous donors are bankrolling the campaign without any disclosure of who they are or what they want.

A conflict of interest exists when a lawmaker sits on a committee that regulates the same industry that funds their campaign. When the regulator and the regulated are financially connected, voters should ask: whose interests come first?

Under the STOCK Act, members of Congress must publicly report all personal stock trades within 45 days. No disclosed trades were found for this member.

This candidate's legislative record is not tracked in congressional databases, likely because they sought or served in executive office rather than Congress.