2006 Congressional Campaigns Underway

WASHINGTON – Candidates seeking election to the 33 Senate seats up for election in 2006 have reported raising $84.8 million and spending $20.2 million during the first six months of 2005.

From January 1, through June 30, 2005, contributions from individuals accounted for $62.8 million or 74% of the total raised by Senate candidates.  PAC money totaled $15.6 million and represented 18% of receipts.

While comparisons of Senate races are problematic because different states have contests each cycle and member retirements sometimes have large effects,  mid-year reports filed by this current group of 85 candidates indicate more fundraising activity than the first six-month filings by candidates in the recent past.    During the first half of 1999, when these seats were last contested, 73 candidates raised $50 million and spent $12.2 million.  In 2001, 56 candidates, competing for 33 seats, raised $43 million and spent $9.3 million, and in 2003, 63 candidates raised $75.6 million and spent $18.4 million.

Senate candidates ended the first six months of 2005 with $103.1 million cash-on-hand and debts of $6.9 million, some of which is from previous elections.

Campaign finance reports filed by House candidates during the same six month period show 428 House incumbents reporting receipts of $116.5 million, a $23.7 million (or 25.5%) increase from the comparable period for incumbents in 2003.  From January through June of this year, 224 Republicans reported raising $67.7 million, while 204 Democrats raised $48.8 million.   Democrats had cash on hand at the end of the reporting period of $94.7 million and Republicans $115.7 million.   

Republican incumbents reported median receipts of $245,137 compared to $188,745 for Democrats.  For the comparable period in 2003, Republicans had median receipts of $184,932 and Democrats $150,613.

Receipts for the 24 Republican freshmen came to $9.9 million while the 17 Democratic freshmen had receipts of $5.8 million.  Democratic freshmen had median receipts of $251,888 while the median for Republicans was $395,712. 

Non-incumbents raised a total of $14.3 million for House races during the first six months of 2005, with 79 Democrats raising $6.8 million and 60 Republicans raising $7.5 million.  In a comparable period of 2003, 38 Democrats raised $1.8 million and 82 Republicans raised $9.5 million. 

Included in the following tables are the rankings of House members for the following categories:  total receipts, contributions from individuals, PAC contributions, disbursements, and cash on hand.  Comparative charts and graphs are also included, along with summary statistical information on each Senate candidate.  Financial activity for 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 is also included for Senate campaigns, along with rankings by receipts.    

The following tables in EXCEL format can be read using Excel from Microsoft or Adobe Reader from Adobe.

Senate Campaign Financial Summary [EXCEL] [PDF]

Senate Top 50 by Receipts [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Incumbent Summary [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Freshmen Summary [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Nonincumbent Summary [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Incumbent Top 50 Receipts [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Incumbent Top 50 Contributions from Individuals [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Incumbent Top 50 Contributions from Other Committees (PACs) [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Incumbent Top 50 Disbursements [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Incumbent Top 50 Cash on Hand [EXCEL] [PDF]

House Nonincumbent Top 50 Receipts [EXCEL] [PDF]

###