Party Fundraising Escalates
For Immediate Release: Contact: Ian Stirton
January 12, 2001 Ron Harris
Sharon Snyder
Kelly Huff
PARTY FUNDRAISING ESCALATES
WASHINGTON - The Republican and Democratic parties raised a total of $1.2 billion in
hard and soft dollars for the election cycle beginning January 1, 1999, through November
27, 2000. This was almost double their efforts for the same period in the ’98
election and 37% more than 1996, the last presidential cycle. The following table provides
a summary:
Overall Party Receipts Reported to the FEC
Through 20 Days After the General Election
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
Democrats
Federal
$269.9
$153.4
$210.0
$121.1
$155.5
Non
Federal
$243.1
$91.5
$122.3
$49.1
$36.3
Total
$513.0
$244.9
$332.3
$170.2
$191.8
Republicans
Federal
$447.4
$273.6
$407.5
$223.7
$266.3
Non
Federal
$244.4
$131.0
$141.2
$52.5
$49.8
Total
$691.8
$404.6
$548.7
$276.2
$316.1
grand
total
$1,204.8
$649.5
$881.0
$446.4
$507.9
millions of dollars
In terms of federal, or hard money, Republicans raised $447.4 million and
spent $406.6 million. By late November, their cash reserves were $36.3 million, with $4.5
million in debts. Democrats raised $269.9 million and spent $253.4 million. They had
cash-on-hand of $37.8 million, with $17.7 million in debts.
These "hard dollar" receipts are 10% higher for Republicans than in
the previous presidential election cycle (1995-96), and 29% higher for Democratic
committees. The Democrats reported a 28% increase in disbursements over 1996, while the
Republicans reported only a slight increase of under 2%.
Republicans spent a total of $33.7 million specifically directed toward their
candidates, including $2.7 million in contributions, nearly $29 million in coordinated
expenditures*, and almost $2 million in independent expenditures. Democrats spent $26.3
million directly to promote their candidates, with $3.8 million in contributions, $20.2
million in coordinated expenditures, and $2.2 million in independent expenditures.
The largest percentage increases for both parties continue to be in nonfederal, or
"soft money" (funds raised outside the limitations and prohibitions of
the Federal Election Campaign Act). Republicans raised $244.4 million, an increase of 73%
over the same period in 1995-96, the last presidential cycle, while Democrats raised $243
million, a 99% increase. Soft money represented 35% of Republican Party financial activity
reported to the FEC and 47% of Democratic Party fundraising.
Much of the activity of national party committees in recent election cycles has shifted
toward transfers of funds from the national committees to various states. In total, the
national committees of the Democratic Party transferred $226.9 million to various states.
The national committees of the Republican Party transferred $184.9 million. Hard dollar
transfers by the Democrats totalled $81.7 million; Republicans transferred $55.5 million.
Soft money transfers totalled $145.2 million for the Democrats and $129.4 million for the
Republicans. These transfers to the states are listed on the last two pages of this
release.
Charts attached to this release provide comparable data for four previous election
cycles. The next report for this election cycle is the year-end report, due
January 31, covering financial activity from November 28 through December 31, 2000.
This release and the 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.
*Coordinated expenditures are monies spent by national and state party committees on
general election nominees and are in addition to contributions. They are limited in
amount.
Democratic Federal Activity
Republican Federal Activity
Democratic Nonfederal
Republican Nonfederal
Nonfederal Summary 1992-2000
National Party Transfers to States
Congressional Party Committee Transfers to States