News Releases, Media Advisories

 

For Immediate Release:                                  Contact:  Ian Stirton
May 8, 1998                                                       Ron Harris
                                                                  Sharon Snyder
                                                                  Kelly Huff

$41 MILLION JUMP IN RECEIPTS BY CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS

WASHINGTON - Campaign receipts of U.S. Senate and House candidates increased $41 million, or 14%, during the first 15 months of the 1997-98 election cycle compared to the same period in 1995-96, according to a compilation released today by the Federal Election Commission.

The FEC found that 1509 Senate and House candidates raised $338 million and spent $185 million. From January 1, 1997, through March 31, 1998, 166 Senate candidates raised $140.3 million and spent $70.9 million, while 1,343 House candidates raised $197.9 million and spent $113.9 million.

The following table details a 15-month comparison of campaign activity for Senate and House candidates in the last five election cycles: 

Cycle	Candidates	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash on Hand
97-98	1509	        $338.9 	        $185.5 	        $236.5 
95-96	1839	        $297.0 	        $177.8 	        $169.8 
93-94	1881	        $253.9 	        $163.6 	        $140.6 
91-92	2053	        $247.5 	        $170.1 	        $160.4 
89-90	1269	        $192.5 	        $126.6 	        $138.5 
		(figures in millions)
Contributions from individuals continue to be the largest source of campaign funds. For the first 15 months of the 1997-98 cycle, individual contributions totalled $192.9 million, or 57% of monies raised. PAC money accounted for $84.5 million, or 25%. Candidate money, either in the form of direct contributions or loans, totalled $40.7 million, representing 12% of total revenues.

Receipts for 1998 Senate races increased for both parties, as competitive races took shape in many large population states, such as California, New York and Florida. Cycle -to- cycle comparisons of Senate activity are difficult because, unlike House races, different seats in different states are up for election each cycle.

In the House, fundraising increased for Democrats, while remaining nearly unchanged for Republicans. The FEC also found that 478 major party challengers in House races raised $26.4 million, a 17.5% decline from 1996 levels. The number of House challengers whose receipts have exceeded $50,000 also declined, from 173 at this point in 1996, to 121 in 1998. The 403 House incumbents, however, raised $137.9 million, 9% more than in the previous cycle.

Tables attached to this release offer summary data for Senate and House candidates by political party, as well as by candidate status (incumbent, challenger, or open seat). Also included are rankings of Senate and House candidates for the following categories: receipts, individual contributions, PAC or other committee contributions, disbursements, cash-on-hand and debts. Six-year financial summaries of 1998 Senate candidates, as well as current cycle financial summaries for each House race are also attached. Financial information on House special elections is separately listed.

The data contained in this release are also available on the Internet. The FEC address on the World Wide Web is http://www.fec.gov. Look for downloadable data bases under Financial Information for Candidates, Parties, and PACs. This release is also under News Releases and Media Advisories.

Footnotes

  • 1. Figures in the first two tables and the detailed listings of candidates cover from January 1, 1997, or whenever the campaign registered during the year, through March 31, 1998 or the last report filed by the campaign as indicated.
  • 2. Net receipt and new disbursement figures are total receipts and total disbursements, as reported by the campaigns, minus any money transferred between committees of the same campaign.
  • 3. Columns entitled "other cmte contributions" are moneys contributed to campaigns by PACs and other committees as reported by the campaigns. Other committees include primarily committees of other candidates.
  • 4. On the Senate listings, the column titled "candidate support" includes contributions by the candidate as well as loans made or guaranteed by the candidate. The column titled "trans from other auth" includes moneys transferred from House committees of candidates for the Senate, as well as proceeds from joint fundraising activity among several candidates or committees. Contributions from individuals and PACs made through these joint fundraising efforts are NOT included in the "individual contributions" or "other cmte contributions" columns.
  • 5. Open seat races are those in which the incumbent did not seek reelection.
  • 6. Detailed listings of candidates include all those House candidates who reported receipts before March 31, 1998.
  • 7. Some House members who are or were running for the Senate in '98 changed their former House campaign committees into their Senate campaign committees. Financial activity related solely to their Senate campaigns cannot be isolated. (See Bunning, [KY], Ensign [NV], Neumann [WI], and Smith [WA]).
  • 8. Party abbreviations in the listing of House campaigns are: 

    •  DEM - Democrat                        LIB - Libertarian

    
 DFL - Democrat/Farmer/Labor (MN)      PAF - Peace and Freedom

    
 REP - Republican                      IND - Independent

    
 RTL - Right to Life                   LBL - Liberal
  • 9. Several candidates report significant debts at least some of which were incurred in previous election cycles. These include;
  • Robert Bennett (UT)
  • Christopher Cannon (UT)
  • Max Sandlin (TX)
  • R. Terry Everett (AL)
  • Norman Sisisky (VA)
  • Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ)
  • Carl Mayer (NJ)
  • Robert Wilson (AL)
  • Brad Sherman (CA)
  • Paul Barby (OK)