A Review of 2018 Lobbying Dollars Spent on Capitol Hill

By David Rauf

Some direct sellers increased their efforts; others decreased.

“The connections we are building help our legislators understand and protect the channel.”
—Brian Bennett, vice president of government affairs and policy, DSA

The power to persuade is aided by money, and in the U.S. during 2018 $3.42 billion was spent on the professional efforts of 11,586 lobbyists attempting to influence public officials to lean one way or another, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (based on data from the Senate Office of Public Records).

Pharma and health topped the list with over $279 million spent on lobbying. Insurance came in a distant second at $160 million, followed by electronics manufacturing and equipment at $146 million. Fourth on the list, coming in at $137 million, was business associations (which includes the highest single lobbyist group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce).