This chapter presents the empirical setting in Russia and then introduces and describes the data used to test the main arguments throughout the book. First, I describe how businesspeople became attracted to running for office in Russia since the fall of the USSR and defend my focus on regional legislatures as the best level of government to study their candidacies. Next, I document the firm-, candidate-, and region-level data sources and describe the Python algorithm used to match candidates with firms. I then present summary statistics about the types of candidates, firms and sectors connected to businessperson candidacy in Russia from 2004–2011.