House and Senate candidates raise $507 million in 2007

Congressional campaigns raised a total of $507 million in 2007, an eight percent increase from 2005. While receipts for House candidates increased in 2007, receipts for Senate candidates declined.

Senate candidates raised $164.5 million in 2007, 14 percent less than in 2005. During 2007, Senate candidates reported expenditures of $57.9 million, down from $69.8 million spent during 2005. Comparing Senate races between election cycles is difficult because states hold Senate elections in different years. Many states holding Senate elections in 2008 have smaller populations that often result in lower campaign contributions. Six years ago when these same Senate seats were up for election, candidates raised $93.8 million in the year before the election year.

Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives raised $342.8 million during 2007, an increase of 22 percent from 2005. The campaigns spent $186 million, 26 percent more than 2005. The increased receipts for House candidates were limited to Democratic candidates, who raised $200.1 million, 64 percent more than in 2005. All three types of Democratic House candidates increased their receipts (incumbents, challengers and open seat candidates). Republican House candidates raised $142.6 million, nine percent less than in 2005. Much of the decline came from incumbent Republican candidates, while the Republican challengers raised significantly more and Republican open seat candidates slightly less than in 2005. The charts shown at the top of page 6 detail the total receipts of all Democratic and Republican House candidates in the off-year from 1995 to 2007.

Individual contributions remained the largest source of Congressional campaign revenues, although the $278.9 million contributed by individuals in 2007 was six percent less than in 2005 and only 55 percent of the total contributions to Congressional candidates, down from 63 percent in 2005.

More information is available in an FEC press release dated April 7, 2008. The release, which is available on the Commission’s web site at https://www.fec.gov/updates/congressional-campaigns-raise-507-million-in-2007/ includes tables detailing fundraising totals for the top 50 House and Senate campaigns in 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 for House and Senate candidates in the nonelection years from 1995 to 2007.