Follow the Money: How to Track Politician Trades Using the Senate Financial Disclosures API

Want to know what U.S. Senators are buying and selling in the stock market? There's a smart and easy way to do it — with the Latest Senate Financial Disclosures API.

This API gives you real-time access to investment moves made by U.S. Senate members and their families. If you're a trader, investor, or just curious about what powerful people are doing with their money, this tool is for you.

Why This API Matters to Traders

Top traders and hedge funds often say: Follow the smart money. Well, what's smarter than following the people who help make the laws that shape the economy?

The Senate Disclosures API lets you:

- See which stocks politicians are buying or selling
- Spot trends early before the market reacts
- Understand what sectors big political names are betting on

If a senator is suddenly buying shares of a tech stock or selling off energy stocks, that could be a useful trading signal.

What Info You Get from the API

Here's the kind of data the API provides:

- Stock symbol (like AAPL, TSLA, or BITB)
- Transaction date and disclosure date
- Who made the trade (Senator or family member)
- What type of asset it is (Stock, ETF, Bond, Real Estate)
- Trade amount range (e.g., $15,001 - $50,000)

You can even see if it was a buy or sell and who owns the asset (Senator or spouse).

Example: What the Data Looks Like

{
"symbol": "GS",
"transactionDate": "2025-02-28",
"firstName": "Dave",
"lastName": "McCormick",
"type": "Sale",
"amount": "$1,000,001 - $5,000,000",
"assetDescription": "The Goldman Sachs Group Inc"
}

In this example, a senator's family member sold millions worth of Goldman Sachs (GS) stock. That's valuable insight — especially if you also trade financial stocks.

How Traders Can Use This Data

Here's how you can turn this info into trading ideas:

1. Spot Trends Before the News
If you notice multiple senators buying into a sector (e.g., AI or green energy), that might be a signal to investigate those stocks further.

2. Track Big Moves
Large buys and sells in companies like Apple, Tesla, or Amazon can suggest upcoming changes in price or sentiment.

3. Filter for High-Value Trades
Focus on trades worth $100K+ — they often reflect stronger conviction.

4. Cross-Check With Chart Patterns
Combine this info with technical analysis for smarter entries and exits.

How to Use the API

1. Sign Up at Financial Modeling Prep to get your free API key.
2. Use the endpoint below with your API key:

https://financialmodelingprep.com/stable/senate-latest?apikey=YOUR_API_KEY

3. Fetch the data using tools like Python, JavaScript, or even insert the endpoint into your browsers adress bar to see the output.
4. Analyze trades, watch for patterns, and build your own alerts.

Who Should Use This API?

- Day Traders & Swing Traders: Spot unusual activity fast.
- Long-term Investors: Track where powerful people put their money.

The Latest Senate Financial Disclosures API is a hidden gem for traders looking to get an edge. By tracking what lawmakers are doing with their money, you can stay ahead of the curve and make more informed trades.