Derek Willis
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dwillis.bsky.social
Derek Willis
@dwillis.bsky.social
I teach data journalism at the University of Maryland, run OpenElections. Fan of WBB & test cricket. Posting obscure things about campaign finance, Congress & elections.

https://github.com/dwillis
https://thescoop.org
Great moments in fundraising "surveys".

#disqualifiessurvey
January 23, 2026 at 6:39 PM
In Thursday's OT loss to Iowa, Maryland WBB missed 13 layups, according to the play-by-play data I've compiled. Iowa missed 4 that weren't blocked by Terps.

thescoop.org/umdwbb-data/

#ncaawbb
January 23, 2026 at 4:05 PM
First appearance of the phrase "Trump diet soda" among my fundraising email collection.
January 21, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Adventures in fundraising email "survey" questions:
January 16, 2026 at 7:25 PM
👋 from journalism, which also has this problem.

mailchi.mp/goodauthorit...
January 16, 2026 at 7:07 PM
This is mentions from the Congressional Record
January 15, 2026 at 11:53 PM
I think Mary Peltola is running for the Senate, if my fundraising emails are to be believed.
January 14, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Been awhile since we've had a good Computer Jesus job posting. The qualified applicant pool for this position (assuming they want both areas) is ~10 people. If they want just one, it's slightly larger.

It is a nice wish list, tho.
January 13, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Just got this text message from HollywoodDemocrats.com, which since 2023 has raised more than $200k and spent $0 on candidates or IEs. What it does spend money on: consultants.

Folks, this ain't it.

www.fec.gov/data/disburs...
January 11, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Hang on, there might be a broader spelling issue:
January 10, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Please, Null.
January 10, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Correct spellings of "Dave", wrong answers only:
January 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Oregon fans right now:
January 10, 2026 at 1:50 AM
January 9, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Very pleased to see the University of Maryland athletics department using the same sort of tactics employed by political fundraising consultants.
January 5, 2026 at 10:47 PM
"Join the fun in our holiday poll"
January 5, 2026 at 4:34 PM
January 3, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Indeed, the Trump campaign is testing many things.
January 2, 2026 at 5:32 PM
"Do Not Share" is the subject line of this fundraising email from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise:
January 2, 2026 at 2:23 AM
The year in crime:
December 31, 2025 at 11:25 PM
California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna endorsing in the Texas Land Commissioner election:
December 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
"How were your holidays?"

"Great! Spent some time indexing very old cricket matches from English villages I've never heard of."
December 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The plea of every sports editor, taken from an 1895 edition of the Reading Observer (U.K.):
December 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Virginia State Sen. Bryce Reeves sends an email to his list this morning announcing his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race.

11 minutes later, his campaign sends an email asking for endorsements for the U.S. Senate race.
December 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Totally normal fundraising email from Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers:
December 28, 2025 at 1:53 AM