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For Immediate Release
August 3, 2006
Contact: Bob Biersack
Ian Stirton
George Smaragdis
Kelly Huff

CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS RAISE $893.6 MILLION THROUGH JUNE 30

WASHINGTON -- Congressional campaigns raised a total of $893.6 million in the 18 months of the 2005-2006 election cycle ending June 30, an increase of 12% from the comparable period in the 2003-2004 campaign, according to a compilation by the Federal Election Commission.

The Commission found that 2,080 Senate and House candidates spent $515.3 million from January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 (up 6% from 2004), and reported cash on hand of $575.5 million (up 19%) at the end of the second quarter of 2006.

Financial results were mixed in Senate races where candidates in this cycle’s 33 Senate campaigns reported receipts of $349.6 million, disbursements of $189.8 million, and cash balances of $208.5 million.  This represents a 3% increase in fundraising, a 9% decline in spending, and a 15% increase in cash-on hand over 2004 levels.

Comparisons across election cycles are particularly difficult for Senate races because the states involved vary and also a few campaigns can significantly affect totals.  The number and location of open seat races (which are typically more competitive and expensive) and the number of large population states holding Senate campaigns can significantly affect financial totals.

House campaigns raised $544 million (up 18% from 2004 levels) and spent $325.5 million (17% above the previous cycle).  They reported a cash balance of $367 million as of June 30.   Receipts by Republican House candidates increased 12% with increases for incumbent candidates (23%) and open seat candidates (15%) but a decline in overall receipts for Republican House challengers of 34% when compared with 2004.   Democratic candidates’ receipts were 26% higher than in the last cycle with a small increase for incumbents (4%) and larger increases for both open seat candidates (46%) and challengers, whose fundraising more than doubled when compared with 2004.   

Tables provided with this release also show substantial increases in fundraising for both House Republican incumbents and Democratic challengers in just the second quarter of 2006.  Moreover, the number of challengers reaching the $200,000 level in campaign receipts was greater at this point in 2006 than in any comparable period in earlier cycles for which the FEC has information.

In all House and Senate campaigns, contributions from individuals totaled $554 million and continue to be the largest source of receipts for Congressional candidates, representing 62% of fundraising as of June 30.  PAC contributions totaled $232 million or 26% while candidates themselves contributed or loaned a total of $75.5 million, 8% of all receipts.   Contributions from individuals grew by 14% when compared with the same time period in the 2004 campaign, while PAC contributions increased by 23% while contributions and loans from candidates themselves were 22% below comparable 2004 totals.

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 and other committee contributions, contributions and loans from the candidate, disbursements, cash-on-hand, and debts owed.  Six-year financial summaries of Senate candidates for 2006, as well as current cycle financial summaries for each House campaign are also attached. 

This release and the data contained in it are also available on the FEC’s web site at http://www.fec.gov under News Releases.

 

 

 


Tables

  • Activity of 2006 Congressional Campaigns Through June 30, 2006[excel]  [pdf]
  • Financial Activity of Senate Candidates 1994-2006 [excel]  [pdf]
  • Financial Activity of House Candidates 1994-2006 [excel]  [pdf]
  • Median Activity of House Candidates 1992-2006 [excel]  [pdf]
  • House Campaign Fundraising from April 1, 2006 Through June 30, 2006 Only [excel]  [pdf]
  • Senate Top 50s
    • Top 50 Senate Campaigns by Receipts       [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 Senate Campaigns by Contributions from Individuals  [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 Senate Campaigns by Contributions from PACs and Other Committees  [excel]  [pdf]   
    • Top 50 Senate Campaigns by Contributions and Loans from the Candidate [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 Senate Campaigns by Disbursements  [excel]  [pdf]       
    • Top 50 Senate Campaigns by Cash on Hand  [excel]  [pdf]        
    • Senate Campaign Debts  [excel]  [pdf]
  • Six Year Financial Summary for 2006 Senate Campaigns through March 31, 2006[excel]  [pdf]
  • House Top 50s       
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Receipts  [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Contributions from Individuals  [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Contributions from PACs and Other Committees  [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Contributions and Loans from the Candidate [excel]  [pdf]
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Disbursements  [excel]  [pdf]      
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Cash on Hand  [excel]  [pdf]        
    • Top 50 House Campaigns by Debts Owed  [excel]  [pdf]
      • House Incumbent Top 50s       
        • Top 50 Incumbent Campaigns by Receipts  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Incumbent Campaigns by Contributions from Individuals  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Incumbent Campaigns by Contributions from PACs and Other Committees  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Incumbent Campaigns by Disbursements  [excel]  [pdf]      
        • Top 50 Incumbent Campaigns by Cash on Hand  [excel]  [pdf]        
        • Top 50 Incumbent Campaigns by Debts Owed  [excel]  [pdf]
        House Challengers Top 50s       
        • Top 50 Challengers Campaigns by Receipts  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Challengers Campaigns by Contributions from Individuals  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Challengers Campaigns by Contributions from PACs and Other Committees  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Challengers Campaigns by Disbursements  [excel]  [pdf]      
        • Top 50 Challengers Campaigns by Cash on Hand  [excel]  [pdf]        
        • Top 50 Challengers Campaigns by Debts Owed  [excel]  [pdf]
        House Open Seat Top 50s       
        • Top 50 Open Seat Campaigns by Receipts  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Open Seat Campaigns by Contributions from Individuals  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Open Seat Campaigns by Contributions from PACs and Other Committees  [excel]  [pdf]
        • Top 50 Open Seat Campaigns by Disbursements  [excel]  [pdf]      
        • Top 50 Open Seat Campaigns by Cash on Hand  [excel]  [pdf]        
        • Top 50 Open Seat Campaigns by Debts Owed  [excel]  [pdf]
      • 2005 House Campaigns by State and District   [excel]  [pdf]

Footnotes

  1. Figures in the first two tables and the detailed listings of candidates cover from January 1, 2005, or whenever the campaign registered during the year, through June 30, 2006.
  2. Net receipt and net 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 “Contrib from Other Cmte’s” are monies 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. Some House members who are or were running for the Senate in 2006 changed their former House campaign committees into their Senate campaign committees.  Financial activity related solely to their Senate campaigns cannot be isolated. (See Harris [FL], Menendez [NJ], Brown [OH], Ford [TN])
  7. Several candidates report significant debts, at least some of which were incurred in previous election cycles.  These include
  • Darrell Issa (CA)
  • Maria Cantwell (WA)
  • Doug Ose (CA)
  • Michael Sodrel (IN)
  • Christopher Chocola (IN)
  • Thomas Price (GA)

       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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