PAC activity increases in 2006

From January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2006, political action committees (PACs) raised $1.086 billion, up 18 percent over 2004, and spent $1.055 billion, up 25 percent over 2003-2004. PAC contributions to federal candidates during 2005-2006 totaled $372.1 million, up 20 percent from 2003-2004. Most of that money—$348 million—was given to candidates seeking election in 2006. The remaining $24.1 million went to candidates running for office in future years, or to debt retirement for candidates in past cycles. Incumbents continued to receive most of the PAC contributions, as they have in previous elections.

House candidates received $279.2 million from PACs, up 24 percent from the previous cycle, while Senate candidates received $86.1 million, 13 percent above 2004 levels. Republican Congressional candidates received $207.7 million, an increase of 18 percent from the previous cycle, while Democrats received $161.4 million, up 20 percent.

In addition to the $372 million in contributions, PACs made $37.8 million in independent expenditures for and against candidates. Of this, $23 million was spent on behalf of various candidates, and $14.8 million was spent against them.Some PACs (mostly nonconnected committees) also maintain nonfederal accounts and must therefore use a combination of federal and nonfederal funds to pay for activities that relate to both federal and state or local elections. In addition to the federal receipts and disbursements discussed above, PACs reported spending a total of $144.5 million in nonfederal funds for these shared expenses.

Additional information, including data on PAC financial activity for 2005-2006 and comparable summary statistics for several previous election cycles, is available in a press release dated October 5, 2007. The press release is available on the FEC web site at https://www.fec.gov/updates/pac-activity-continues-climb-in-2006/.