FEC REPORTS ON CONGRESSIONAL FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR 2000
-Surpasses $1 Billion Mark-
WASHINGTON - Congressional candidates raised a total of $1.047 billion for the
1999-2000 election cycle and spent $1.006 billion, according to an analysis by the Federal
Election Commission. These amounts were the highest recorded in any election cycle in the
Commission’s 25-year existence.
According to the analysis of 2,416 candidates, which covers the period from January 1,
1999, through December 31, 2000, receipts were up 34% from the previous election cycle of
1997-98 while spending increased 36%.
The following chart summarizes the financial activities of all Congressional campaigns
by election cycle:
|
| 1999-2000 |
1997-98 |
1995-96 |
1993-94 |
1991-92 |
1989-90 |
1987-88 |
1985-86 |
1983-84 |
1981-82 |
Raised |
$1,047.3 |
$781.3 |
$790.5
|
$740.5
|
$659.3
|
$471.7
|
$477.6
|
$472.0
|
$397.2
|
$354.7
|
Spent |
$1,005.6 |
$740.4 |
$765.3
|
$725.2
|
$680.2
|
$446.3
|
$459.0
|
$450.9
|
$374.1
|
$342.4
|
No.
of Candidates |
2416 |
2100 |
2605 |
2376 |
2950 |
1759 |
1792 |
1873 |
2036 |
2240 |
|
| in millions of dollars |
Increases in financial activity were evident for House and Senate candidates, and
candidates of both major parties. A total of 2,083 House candidates raised $610.4 million
and spent $572.3 million. This was a 24% increase in receipts and a 26% increase in
spending over 1997-98 levels when 1,830 House candidates sought election. Republican House
candidates, numbering 720, raised $317.7 million and spent $299.7 million, a 24% increase
in receipts and a 26% increase in spending over the last cycle. At the same time, 671
Democratic House candidates reported an increase of 23% in receipts, to $286.7 million,
and a 26% increase in spending, to $266.8 million. The 692 candidates representing other
parties raised $6 million and spent $5.7 million.
A total of 333 Senate candidates raised $437 million for the 1999-2000 election cycle,
up 52% from 1997-98 and spent $434.7 million, up 51% from the previous election cycle when
270 candidates were seeking office. Comparisons of Senate races are problematic because of
the different states involved in each two-year election cycle.
The following chart summarizes activity of winning campaigns (special elections not
included):
Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2000 |
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
1992 |
1990 |
1988 |
1986 |
1984 |
1982 |
Raised |
$247.4 |
$163.0 |
$124.9 |
$151.0 |
$118.5 |
$121.5 |
$121.7
|
$106.8
|
$100.9
|
$70.7
|
Spent |
$244.8 |
$158.3 |
$128.0 |
$150.7 |
$123.7 |
$115.4 |
$123.6
|
$104.3
|
$97.5
|
$68.2
|
PAC
$ |
$31.1 |
$36.5 |
$29.6 |
$32.7 |
$32.2 |
$31.3 |
$31.8
|
$28.4
|
$20.0
|
$15.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
House |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2000 |
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
1992 |
1990 |
1988 |
1986 |
1984 |
1982 |
Raised |
$404.8 |
$328.4 |
$321.9 |
$245.8 |
$235.9 |
$198.3 |
$191.0
|
$172.7
|
$144.8
|
$123.1
|
Spent |
$368.6 |
$289.8 |
$297.2 |
$230.6 |
$243.6 |
$179.1 |
$171.0
|
$154.9
|
$127.0
|
$114.7
|
PAC
$ |
$162.5 |
$132.5 |
$122.8 |
$97.6 |
$97.7 |
$91.5 |
$86.4
|
$72.8
|
$59.5
|
$42.7
|
|
| in millions of dollars |
Contributions from individuals in the 2000 elections were up 34% over 1997-98,
totalling $567.7 million. They represented 54% of total receipts by all Congressional
candidates; 58% in Senate races and 52% in House contests.
Candidate loans and contributions to their own campaigns totalled $175.9 million, up
61% from the $107.2 million reported in 1997-98. Much of this increase was fueled by one
Senate candidate in New Jersey. Senate candidates used $107.7 million of their own funds,
while House candidates used $53.6 million in candidate funds.
PAC contributions to all federal candidates for the 1999-2000 election cycle reached
$245.4 million, up 19% from the 1997-98 cycle of $206.8 million. PACs gave $127.9 million
to Republicans, $116.8 to Democrats, and $630,955 to candidates from other parties.
Contributions to incumbents far outpaced monies given to other types of candidates.
Incumbents received $184 million, while challengers received $27 million and open-seat
races, $34.3 million. PACs contributed more substantially to House races, where PAC
receipts of $193.4 million represented 32% of receipts compared to Senate races, where $52
million in PAC money accounted for only 12% of monies raised.
The chart below provides amounts (in millions of dollars) and percentages of PAC
contributions in Congressional campaigns for the past five election cycles.
|
| 2000 |
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
1992 |
|
| Rcpts. |
%
Rcpts |
Rcpts. |
%
Rcpts |
Rcpts. |
%
Rcpts |
Rcpts. |
%
Rcpts |
Rcpts. |
%
Rcpts |
All |
248.4 |
24% |
206.8 |
26% |
201.4 |
25% |
178.8 |
24% |
178.6 |
27% |
Senate |
52 |
12% |
48.1 |
17% |
45.6 |
16% |
46.7 |
15% |
51.2 |
19% |
House |
193.3 |
32% |
158.7 |
32% |
155.8 |
31% |
132.1 |
31% |
127.4 |
32% |
Information attached to this release provides summary data on the following:
- Overall summary of all Senate and House campaigns based on political party and candidate
status (incumbent, challenger, and open seat);
- Overall summary of Senate and House General Election campaigns based on political party
and candidate status;
- Comparable statistics for 7 election cycles;
- Median activity for various types of House races and comparisons with prior election
cycles;
- Contributions from individuals by size of the contribution;
- Six-year financial summaries for 2000 Senate candidates;
- Financial summaries for all General Election House candidates;
- Top 50 rankings of candidates in various categories.
This release and data contained in it are also available on the FEC’s webpage at www.fec.gov
under News Releases or Campaign Finance Reports and Data.
Footnotes
1. Figures in the first two tables and the detailed listings of candidates cover from
January 1, 1999, or whenever the campaign registered during the year, through December 31,
2000 or the last report filed by the campaign.
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 cmtes" are moneys 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. Detailed listings of candidates include all those House general election candidates
who reported receipts before December 31, 2000.
7. Some House members who are or were running for the Senate in 2000 changed their
former House campaign committees into their Senate campaign committees. Financial activity
related solely to their Senate campaigns cannot be isolated. (See Klink [PA]).
8. Party abbreviations in the listing of House campaigns are:
blockquote
DEM - Democrat LIB - Libertarian
DFL - Democrat/Farmer/Labor (MN) PAF - Peace and Freedom
REP - Republican IND - Independent
RTL - Right to Life LBL - Liberal
<lockquote>
9. Several candidates report significant debts at least some of which were incurred in
previous election cycles. These include;
blockquote
Christopher Cannon (UT)
William H. Frist (TN)
Doug Ose (CA)
Norman Sisisky (VA)
Donald Sherwood (PA)
Brad Sherman (CA)
Terry Everett (AL)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ)
<lockquote>
Links to Tables in Both HTML and EXCEL (requires Microsoft Excel) formats:
Financial Activity of All U.S. House of Representatives Candidates, 1988-2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Financial Activity of All U. S. Senate Candidates, 1988-2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Financial Activity of All Senate and House Campaigns, 1999 - 2000 (HTML,
EXCEL)
Financial Activity of General Election U.S. House of Representatives Candidates,
1988-2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Financial Activity of General Election Senate Candidates, 1988-2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Financial Activity of Senate and House General Election Campaigns, 1999-2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Six Year Financial Summary for 2000 Senate Campaigns Through December 31, 2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Contributions from Individuals, 1999-2000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Median Activity of House General Election Candidates (HTML,
EXCEL)
House Non Incumbent Winners and Their Opponents - Median Disbursements (HTML, EXCEL)
Number of House Non Incumbents Who Reported Receipts of at Least $100,000 (HTML, EXCEL)
Total Number of Incumbents Seeking Reelection and Number of Open Seat Districts (HTML, EXCEL)
Top 50 Lists:
- House Cash-on-Hand (HTML, EXCEL)
- House Debts Owed (HTML, EXCEL)
- House Disbursements (HTML, EXCEL)
- House Contributions from Individuals (HTML, EXCEL)
- House Contributions from PACs (HTML, EXCEL)
- House Receipts (HTML, EXCEL)
- Senate Cash-on-Hand (HTML, EXCEL)
- Senate Debts Owed (HTML, EXCEL)
- Senate Disbursements (HTML, EXCEL)
- Senate Contributions from Individuals (HTML, EXCEL)
- Senate Contributions from PACs (HTML, EXCEL)
- Senate Receipts (HTML, EXCEL)
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