The state's campaign-finance watchdog, the Public Disclosure Commission, has just issued its annual "Fact Book" for the last election cycle: 2002.
The book is mainly a profile of state legislative races, including who gave how much cash to whom. It also includes information on political committee fundraising and spending.
Among the revelations: legislative candidates spent nearly $16 million last year, trying for seats in the statehouse. An average race cost $110,000 -- quite a lot of money, especially considering that the salary for a lawmaker is about $34,000 a year.
Interestingly, 11 losing candidates for state Senate spent an average of $13,000 more than the incumbents who won.
Curious to see who's bankrolling your local lawmaker's political career? Click here to download the factbook.

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