FEC Reports on Congressional Fundraising for 1997-98
FEC REPORTS ON CONGRESSIONAL FUNDRAISING FOR 1997-98
-- Overall Spending Declines --
WASHINGTON - Congressional candidates raised a total of $781.3 million and spent $740.4 million in the 1997-98 election cycle, a decrease of $9.2 million in receipts and $24.9 million in expenditures from the 1995-96 election cycle.
The analysis by the Federal Election Commission of 2100 candidates, down from the 2605 candidates in the previous cycle, covers financial activity of Congressional campaigns from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1998.
Summary Financial Activity - All Congressional Campaigns |
|||||||||
1997-98 |
1995-96 |
1993-94 |
1991-92 |
1989-90 |
1987-88 |
1985-86 |
1983-84 |
1981-82 |
|
Raised |
$781.3 |
$790.5 |
$740.5 |
$659.3 |
$471.7 |
$477.6 |
$472.0 |
$397.2 |
$354.7 |
Spent |
$740.4 |
$765.3 |
$725.2 |
$680.2 |
$446.3 |
$459.0 |
$450.9 |
$374.1 |
$342.4 |
No. of Candidates |
2100 |
2605 |
2376 |
2950 |
1759 |
1792 |
1873 |
2036 |
2240 |
Candidates for House seats in 1997-98 raised $493.8 million and spent $452.5 million, down from the $505.4 million raised and $477.8 million spent in the previous cycle. For the cycle, 704 Republican House candidates raised $255.8 million and spent $237.2 million, while 660 Democrats raised $233.4 million and spent $211.1 million. In addition, 466 Other-party House candidates in 1997-98 raised $4.5 million and spent $4.2 million. During the 1995-96 cycle, 853 Republican House candidates raised $266.9 million and spent $251.4 million; 827 Democrats raised $233.1 million and spent $221.2 million. Also, 609 Other-party House candidates raised $5.4 million and spent $5.3 million during 1995-96.
During the 1997-98 election cycle, 270 Senate candidates raised $287.6 million and spent $287.8 million, closely tracking 1995-96, when $285.2 million was raised and $287.5 million was spent by 316 candidates. For this cycle, 109 Republicans reported raising and spending $153 million while 79 Democrats reported receipts of $134.1 million and $134.6 million in expenditures.
The following chart summarizes activity of winning campaigns (special election activity not included):
Financial Activity of Winning Congressional Candidates |
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Senate |
|||||||||
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
1992 |
1990 |
1988 |
1986 |
1984 |
1982 |
|
Raised |
$163.0 |
$124.9 |
$151.0 |
$118.5 |
$121.5 |
$121.7 |
$106.8 |
$100.9 |
$70.7 |
Spent |
$158.3 |
$128.0 |
$150.7 |
$123.7 |
$115.4 |
$123.6 |
$104.3 |
$97.5 |
$68.2 |
PAC $ |
$36.5 |
$29.6 |
$32.7 |
$32.2 |
$31.3 |
$31.8 |
$28.4 |
$20.0 |
$15.6 |
House |
|||||||||
1998 |
1996 |
1994 |
1992 |
1990 |
1988 |
1986 |
1984 |
1982 |
|
Raised |
$328.4 |
$321.9 |
$245.8 |
$235.9 |
$198.3 |
$191.0 |
$172.7 |
$144.8 |
$123.1 |
Spent |
$289.8 |
$297.2 |
$230.6 |
$243.6 |
$179.1 |
$171.0 |
$154.9 |
$127.0 |
$114.7 |
PAC $ |
$132.5 |
$122.8 |
$97.6 |
$97.7 |
$91.5 |
$86.4 |
$72.8 |
$59.5 |
$42.7 |
in millions of dollars |
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Individual contributions in the 1997-98 elections totalled $422.8 million, which represented 54% of total receipts by all Congressional candidates: 58% in Senate races and 52% in House contests.
Candidates contributed or loaned their campaigns $107.2 million, about the same as the $106.6 million reported in 1995-96. Senate candidates used $53.6 million of their own funds; House candidates personally contributed $53.5 million.
Contributions from PACs rose to $206.8 million for the 1997-98 cycle, up slightly from the $201.4 million in the previous cycle. Republicans received $108.2 million in PAC funds and Democrats $98.4 million. As in past elections, incumbents received most of the PAC money, $158.4 million, with challengers receiving $21.5 million and open-seat races $27 million. House candidates received $158.7 million in PAC contributions, representing 32% of their funds for 1997-98, while Senate candidates received $48.1 million, or 17% 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.
% of |
% of |
% of |
% of |
% of |
||||||
1998 |
Receipts |
1996 |
Receipts |
1994 |
Receipts |
1992 |
Receipts |
1990 |
Receipts |
|
All |
206.8 |
26% |
201.4 |
25% |
178.8 |
24% |
178.6 |
27% |
149.7 |
32% |
Senate |
48.1 |
17% |
45.6 |
16% |
46.7 |
15% |
51.2 |
19% |
41.2 |
22% |
House |
158.7 |
32% |
155.8 |
31% |
132.1 |
31% |
127.4 |
32% |
108.5 |
38% |
Information attached to this release provides summary data on the following:
blockquote <lockquote>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 6 election cycles;
Senate (all) Senate (general election)
House (all) House (general election)
Median activity for various types of House races and comparisons with prior election cycles;
Tables comparing House campaigns by closeness of the general election outcome;
Contributions from individuals by size of the contribution;
Six-year financial summaries for 1998 Senate candidates;
Financial summaries for all General Election House candidates;
Candidates for or against whom Independent Expenditures were reported;
Top 50 rankings of candidates in various categories.