| For Immediate Release February 28, 2006 |
Contact: | Bob Biersack Ian Stirton George Smaragdis Kelly Huff |
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CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING RISES IN 2005 |
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WASHINGTON – Congressional campaign fundraising totaled $470.3 million in 2005, an increase of 20.6% when compared to 2003, as reflected in year-end reports analyzed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives raised $280.1 million during 2005, an increase of 25.4% from 2003 levels. These campaigns spent $147.4 million, 22% more than 2003. They entered the election year with cash-on-hand of $282.7 million, up from the $221.4 million balance reported at the end of 2003. Historical tables attached to this release show that House fundraising increases in 2005 were most pronounced for Democratic candidates, who raised $122 million, up 35% from 2003. Democratic challengers and open seat candidates each raised nearly three times their 2003 totals, though the table shows that 2003 was an unusually weak fundraising year for Democratic non-incumbents in House races. They have returned to fundraising levels seen in 2001 for open seats and 1999 for Democratic Challengers. Republican House candidates raised $157.1 million in 2005, 18% more than in the previous off-year. Nearly all of that increase came from incumbent candidates, while Republican challengers raised slightly less, and Republican open seat candidates slightly more than they had in 2003. Senate candidates raised a total of $190.2 million in 2005, up 14% from 2003 levels. During 2005 Senate candidates reported disbursements of $69.8 million, up slightly from what was spent during the off year of the previous cycle, and they ended 2005 with a cash balance of $169 million. Comparing Senate races between election cycles is problematic, however, because different states hold Senate elections each cycle. In 2004 there were a number of competitive races in states with large populations, so Senate activity was relatively high in 2003. Individual Senate campaigns can also be unusually large and effect overall totals, particularly early in the campaign year. In 2005, for example, Hillary Clinton of NY raised $21.4 million, more than twice the total raised by the next largest campaign (Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at $10.2 million). The following table compares non-election year activity (reported in millions of dollars) for all Senate and House campaigns during the last nine election cycles.
Contributions from individuals remain the largest source of funds for Congressional candidates. The $296.7 million raised from individuals was 25% more than in 2003 and represented 63% of all funds raised during the year. The limit in 2006 campaigns for contributions from individuals is $2,100 per election (or a total of $4,200 for a primary and general election). The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) increased contribution limits for individuals from $1,000 per election to $2,000 and indexed them for inflation. Contributions from PACs and other candidate committees, whose limits were left largely unchanged under BCRA, rose 34% to $135.6 million. This represented 29% of all receipts, up from 26% in 2003 but still less than 31% in 2001. Funds from candidates themselves totaled $24.1 million or 5% of all fundraising. This release contains summaries for 2006 cycle Congressional campaigns, comparisons over the past seven election cycles, a listing for each Senate candidate covering the full six-year cycle and each House candidate for 2005. Also provided are top 50 lists for Senate and House campaigns for receipts, disbursements, cash-on-hand, debts, and the major sources of receipts. Tables
Footnotes
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
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