HOME / PRESS OFFICE

FEC Home Page

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2006

 Contact:

Bob Biersack
Kelly Huff
George Smaragdis Michelle Ryan

CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS SPEND $966 MILLION THROUGH MID OCTOBER

WASHINGTON -- Congressional candidates participating in the November 7, 2006 general election have raised $1.14 billion and spent $965.7 million in the current two-year period, according to a compilation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from financial reports through October 18, 2006. This represents an increase of 30% in receipts and 36% in disbursements over the comparable period in 2004.

Senate candidates participating in the 2006 general election raised $457.4 million and spent $401.5 million during the period from January 1, 2005 through October 18, 2006.Receipts were 39% higher than 2004, while Senate spending grew by 44%.Comparisons across election cycles are particularly difficult for Senate races because the states involved vary and also a few campaigns can significantly affect totals. For example, in 2006 there are Senate campaigns in several large states (e.g. New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio) that typically are more expensive.

House general election candidates’ fundraising increased 25% over 2004 levels to a total of $678.6 million.Spending by these candidates totaled $546.2 million, up 30%.  While both parties experienced growth in financial activity, increases were concentrated among Republican incumbents and Democratic challengers and open seat candidates. Republican incumbents’ fundraising increased by 26% over 2004 levels while spending was up by 39%. Democratic challengers more than doubled their receipts and disbursements in 2006 and fundraising and spending by Democratic open seat candidates grew by 60%. Tables that follow show that median receipts also grew in 2006 for nearly all types of House campaigns, with only the median Republican challenger raising and spending less in 2006 than in the previous cycle.

Contributions from individuals totaled $689.8 million and continue to be the largest source of receipts for Congressional candidates, representing 61% of all fundraising as of October 18. PAC contributions totaled $316.8 million or 28%, while candidates themselves contributed or loaned a total of $86.8 million, which was 8% of all receipts. Contributions from individuals grew by 25% when compared with the same time period in the 2004 campaign, while PAC contributions increased by 26% and contributions and loans from candidates themselves are nearly three times greater than 2004.

Tables attached to this release offer summary data for Senate and House candidates by political party, as well as by candidate status (incumbent, challenger, or open seat). Also included are rankings of Senate and House candidates for the following categories: receipts, individual contributions, PAC and other committee contributions, contributions and loans from the candidate, disbursements, cash-on-hand, and debts owed. Six-year financial summaries of Senate candidates for 2006, as well as current cycle financial summaries for each House campaign are also attached.

 

 

Tables

House Campaigns by State and District  [ excel ]  [ pdf ]

 

Footnotes

     8.    Party abbreviations in the listing of House campaigns are:

            DEM - Democrat                                             LIB - Libertarian

            DFL - Democrat/Farmer/Labor (MN) PAF - Peace and Freedom

            REP - Republican                                           IND - Independent

            RTL - Right to Life                                          LBL - Liberal

 

# # #