How to Track What Congress Is Trading (Before the Ban Passes)
Learn how to find every stock trade made by members of Congress. See what Pelosi, Tuberville and others are buying before the pending trading ban takes effect.
Congress outperformed the market in 2024. Democrats returned 31%. Republicans returned 26%. The S&P 500? Just 24.9%.
I find this genuinely frustrating. A recent NBER study found that congressional leaders outperform backbenchers by up to 47% annually. These people have access to non-public policy information, advance notice of regulatory actions, and private briefings that regular investors never see.
But a vote on banning congressional stock trading is expected in early 2026. Before they're forced to sell everything, here's how to actually find what they're buying.
Why Should You Care About Congressional Trades?
The numbers are hard to argue with.
2025 is on pace to be a record year: 7,810 trades through July alone. The penalty for late disclosure? $200 for a first offense. And no member of Congress has ever been prosecuted for a STOCK Act violation.
That last part is what gets me. The law exists. Nobody enforces it. Meanwhile, the trades keep coming.
The Tariff Trades Scandal
The April 2025 tariff announcements were the most blatant example I've seen.
Between Trump's April 2 tariff announcement and the April 9 pause, over a dozen members reported 700+ trades. By the end of the 55-day tariff policy period, 53 members had made over 2,200 trades total.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene bought stocks on the April 8 dip. They soared after the April 9 pause. Multiple senators called for an SEC investigation. Nothing happened.
Whether it's luck or something else, voters across the political spectrum want change. For once, I agree with basically everyone.
Who Trades the Most?
The most active traders in 2024 might surprise you. Or not.
| Member | Party | Trades | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rep. Josh Gottheimer | D-NJ | 526 | $91M |
| Rep. Nancy Pelosi | D-CA | 17 | $37.8M |
| Rep. Scott Franklin | R-FL | 69 | $6M |
| Sen. Tommy Tuberville | R-AL | 202 | $5.5M |
| Sen. Markwayne Mullin | R-OK | 71 | $4.4M |
Gottheimer leads by trade count. Pelosi leads in influence. Her 17 trades were worth $37.8 million.
The Pelosi Effect
Nancy Pelosi's trades get the most attention for good reason.
70.9% return in 2024, well above the S&P 500. Over 70% of her trades end up profitable. Current net worth: $272.5 million.
Her January 2025 trades included Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, Tempus AI, and Vistra call options. The Tempus AI position has been one of her best performers.
I'm not saying she's doing anything illegal. I'm saying her track record is remarkable, and the information asymmetry between Congress and regular investors is real.
The most traded stocks by Congress in 2025: Microsoft, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple. Basically the same names everyone else is chasing, but with better timing.
How to Actually Track These Trades
The official sources are free but painful to use. Third-party tools make it easier.
Official Sources
House Financial Disclosures
- URL: disclosures-clerk.house.gov/FinancialDisclosure
- Periodic Transaction Reports filed within 30-45 days
- Searchable by member name, year, form type
- The catch: PDFs, sometimes handwritten, not always searchable
Senate Financial Disclosures
- URL: efdsearch.senate.gov
- Same 30-45 day disclosure window
- Same limitations
I've spent hours on these sites. They work, but they're clearly not designed to make this information accessible.
What Gets Disclosed
Under the STOCK Act of 2012, members must report:
- Any transaction over $1,000
- Filed within 30 days of notification, no later than 45 days after transaction
- Exemption: Mutual funds, ETFs, diversified funds
What's NOT disclosed:
- Exact dollar amounts (only ranges like "$1,001-$15,000")
- Exact dates (only transaction month)
- Strategy or reasoning
The ranges are particularly annoying. "$1,001 to $15,000" could mean anything. "$1,000,001 to $5,000,000" is a huge spread.
Third-Party Tools That Help
The official databases are clunky. These aggregate the data:
- Quiver Quantitative - Clean interface, free tier
- Capitol Trades - Political trading focus
- Earnings Feed - We track SEC filings including Form 4 insider trades, which often show similar patterns to congressional activity
I use Quiver for congressional data specifically and cross-reference with Form 4 filings in our own system.
The Ban Is Coming (Probably)
Yes, Congress is expected to vote on a stock trading ban in early 2026.
The bipartisan "Restore Trust in Congress Act" (H.R. 5106) has 80+ co-sponsors and support from Trump, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries. That's a rare coalition.
What the Bill Would Do
- Ban members from owning or trading individual stocks
- 180 days to divest after passage
- New members must divest before being sworn in
- 10% of stock value as penalty for non-compliance
- Extends to spouses and dependent children
The spouse provision is important. A lot of trading currently happens through spouses.
Current Status
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has confirmed a discharge petition is in progress to force a floor vote. Sponsors include Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), AOC (D-NY), and Tim Burchett (R-TN).
If the ban passes, congressional trading data disappears as a signal. Track it while you can.
Is Following Congressional Trades Worth It?
Honestly? Maybe.
The data is delayed 30-45 days. By the time you see the trade, the opportunity may have passed. The information asymmetry that makes their returns so good doesn't transfer to you.
But there are patterns worth watching:
- Leadership trades matter more. They outperform backbenchers by 47%. Focus there.
- Cluster activity is interesting. When multiple members buy the same stock around major policy announcements, that's a signal.
- Cross-reference with insider filings. When both Congress and company insiders are buying, that's more conviction than either alone.
I don't build my portfolio around congressional trades. But I do pay attention when the data aligns with other signals.
Track SEC Filings Alongside Congressional Data
Congressional trading often correlates with insider activity. When executives buy their own stock through Form 4 filings, it's sometimes for similar reasons Congress might be buying.
Sign up for Earnings Feed to track SEC filings including Form 4 insider trades. It's the same data professionals use to stay ahead of the market.
The congressional trading data might disappear soon. Insider trading data won't.