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WASHINGTON – National committees of the two major parties have spent $177.3 million directly supporting or opposing Congressional candidates according to a Federal Election Commission (FEC) summary released today.  Expenditures disclosed as of the evening of October 29 are included in this total.  These independent expenditures are 54% higher than the $114.8 million spent during a similar period in the 2004 campaign.  Parties and others must report independent expenditures to the FEC within 24 hours during the final days of the campaign. Party committee independent expenditures in Congressional races as of nine days before the election are summarized below;

(in millions of dollars)

(note: the DNC has made no independent expenditures in 2006 Congressional campaigns)

The most recent comprehensive disclosures of all financial activity were submitted last Thursday, and they show that national party committees raised $768 million between January 1, 2005, and October 18, 2006.  The parties reported spending $709.5 million during this period.  Republican committees, including the Republican National Committee (RNC), the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) raised $435.4 million in federally permissible “hard money.” The Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) raised $332.7 million.  Republican committees reported $49.1 million in cash remaining on October 18, while their Democratic counterparts reported $31.5 million available on that date.

The 2006 election cycle is the second in which national parties have been prohibited from receiving “soft money” as a result of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA).   The following table shows “hard money” fundraising through 20 days before the election in 2004 and 2006, compared with both hard and soft money receipts from the same period in previous cycles.

National Party Receipts

Through 20 Days Before the General Election

(millions of Dollars)

Direct contributions from individuals continue to be the primary source of funds for national party committees.  Republican committees reported that 82% of their funds came from individuals, while Democrats raised 76% directly from individuals.  The four congressional campaign committees also have seen significant growth in contributions from the campaign committees of their members. The DCCC and NRCC have both received about $27.4 million from their candidates, while the DSCC reported $10.2 million from members and the NRSC received $4 million.                                                                                                            

Tables in this release include financial overviews for national committees of the two major parties for the period through mid October.  Transfers from national to state parties are listed by state, as are national party proceeds from joint fundraising committees and transfers from candidate committees to the national Senatorial and Congressional committees.  Finally, party independent expenditures are displayed for each race in which national party spending has taken place.

Democratic Party Committee Financial Activity Through 20 Days Before the General Election  [EXCEL] [PDF]

Republican Party Committee Financial Activity Through 20 Days Before the General Election  [EXCEL] [PDF]

National Party Transfers to States  [EXCEL] [PDF]

Transfers to Parties from House Campaign Committees  [EXCEL] [PDF]

Transfers to Parties from Senate Campaign Committees and Jointfundraising Committees [EXCEL] [PDF]

National Party Independent Expenditures in Senate Races [EXCEL] [PDF]

National Party Independent Expenditures in House Races [EXCEL] [PDF]

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