skip navigation
Here's how you know US flag signifying that this is a United States Federal Government website

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Federal Election Commission | United States of America
  • FEC Record: Statistics

Congressional campaigns raise $657.2M

July 1, 2006

From January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006, congressional campaigns have raised $657.2 million, 13 percent more than the last comparable cycle. Spending remained nearly unchanged from last cycle—$330.4 million. Cash-on-hand was up 24 percent to of $522.3 million.

Senate campaigns reported $265.1 million in receipts, $110.9 million in disbursements and cash balances of $202.5 million, which is a five percent increase in fundraising, a 21 percent decline in spending and a 22 percent increase in cash-on-hand. It is difficult to compare Senate races across different election cycles because of differences in the size and level of competition in states, variations in retirement of certain Senators and other unique factors.

House campaigns raised $392.1 million, spent $219.5 million and reported cash balances of $319.9 million, which is an increase of 19 percent in fundraising and 15 percent increase in spending. Receipts by Democratic House candidates increased 25 percent with large increases for challengers and open seat candidates. Republican House candidates’ receipts were six percent higher than in the last cycle with the increase confined to incumbent candidates.

Contributions from individuals, totaling $414.9 million, continue to be the largest source of receipts for Congressional candidates representing 63 percent of all fundraising. PAC contributions totaled $172.1 million or 26 percent of Congressional receipts, while candidates themselves contributed or loaned a total of $49.7 million—eight percent of all receipts.

Further Information

For more information on Congressional statistics, please see the May 11, 2006 press release entitled “Congressional Fundraising Continues to Grow” on the FEC website, www.fec.gov. The release includes extensive statistics, such as:

  • Summary data for Senate and House candidates by political party, as well as by candidate status: incumbent, challenger or open seat;
  • Rankings of Senate and House candidates for the following categories: receipts, individual contributions, PAC and other committee contributions, disbursements, cash-on-hand and debts owed;
  • Six-year financial summaries of Senate candidates for 2006; and • Current cycle financial summaries for each House campaign

Congressional Financial Activity, 1989-2006

  • Author 
    • Carlin Bunch

Read next:

Major parties raise $555.2M

Related:

Explore campaign finance data »

This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.

The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.