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For Immediate Release
April 13, 2005 		Contact: Bob Biersack
Ian Stirton
Kelly Huff
George Smaragdis

 

PAC ACTIVITY INCREASES FOR 2004 ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON - Financial activity by political action committees (PACs) increased during 2003-2004 when compared to the prior two-year period, according to figures compiled by the Federal Election Commission.  From January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2004, PACs raised $915.7 million (up 34% over 2002) and spent $842.9 million, up 28% over 2001-2002.  Cash on hand as of December 31, 2004, for the 4,867 PACs totaled $241.7 million.

   PAC contributions to federal candidates during 2003-2004 totaled $310.5 million, up 10% from 2001-2002.  Most of the money - $292.1 million - was given to candidates seeking election in 2004.  The remaining $18.4 million went to candidates running for office in future years, or to debt retirement for candidates in past cycles.

 The following table summarizes PAC contributions from 1990 through 2004:

  2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992
All Federal Candidates $310.5 $282.0 $259.8 $219.9 $217.8 $189.6 $188.9
Current Candidates $292.1 $266.1 $247.9 $206.8 $203.9 $179.6 $179.4
Senate $63.7 $59.2 $51.9 $48.1 $45.6 $47.2 $51.2
House $225.4 $206.9 $193.4 $158.7 $155.8 $132.4 $127.4

(millions of dollars)

Incumbents continued to receive most of the PAC contributions as they have in previous elections.  The following table shows the distribution of contributions according to incumbents, challengers, and open seat races over seven election cycles.

2004 2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

Incumbents

$246.8

79%

$213.4

76%

$195.4

75%

$170.9

78%

$146.4

67%

$137.2

72%

Challengers

$22.3

7%

$28.5

10%

$27.5

11%

$22.1

10%

$31.6

15%

$19.0

10%

Open Seats

$41.3

13%

$40.2

14%

$36.9

14%

$27.0

12%

$39.8

18%

$33.4

18%

(millions of dollars)

House candidates received $231.4 million from PACs, up 9% from the previous cycle while Senate candidates received $76.1 million, also 9% above 2002 levels.  Republican congressional candidates received $176 million, an increase of 21% from the previous cycle, while Democrats received $134.3 million, down 2% from the previous cycle. 

The following chart provides PAC contributions and percentages by political party over several election cycles (in millions of dollars).

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

SENATE

DEM

$33.2

44%

$31.9

46%

$23.9

39%

$20.7

43%

$16.6

36%

$23.9

51%

REP

$42.8

56%

$38.1

54%

$37.4

61%

$27.3

57%

$29.0

64%

$23.2

49%

HOUSE

DEM

$100.5

43%

$104.6

49%

$99.2

51%

$77.6

49%

$77.3

50%

$88.2

67%

REP

$130.7

56%

$107.2

51%

$96.2

49%

$80.7

51%

$77.7

50%

$43.9

33%

(millions of dollars)

In addition to the $310 million in contributions, PACs made $57.3 million in independent expenditures for and against candidates.  Of this, $48.6 million was spent on behalf of various candidates and $8.7 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 (e.g. overhead expenses, etc.).  In addition to the federal receipts and disbursements discussed above, PACs reported spending a total of $144.5 million in nonfederal funds (sometimes called “soft” money) for these shared expenses.  The following table lists PAC nonfederal spending in each two-year election cycle since 1992:

2004

$144,472,149

2002

$24,243,784

2000

$26,420,243

1998

$15,806,691

1996

$10,738,904

1994

$9,298,043

1992

$8,250,430

The top 10 committees reporting nonfederal spending in 2003-2004:

America Coming Together

$116,909,778

Emily’s List

$8,123,514

Democratic Victory 2004

$2,570,667

21st Century Democrats

$2,460,947

Victory Campaign 2004

$2,219,351

Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

$1,725,632

Voter Registration 2004

$1,256,396

Senate Voter Registration Project

$1,022,150

Democracy for America

$840,304

Women’s Voter Project

$776,124

The tables below provide data on PAC financial activity for 2004-2003 and comparable summary statistics for several previous election cycles.  Other tables show the distribution of PACs by total amount spent and total contributed to candidates.  Rankings of the “Top 50” PACs in various categories, such as money raised and spent are also included. 

This release and accompanying statistics can be found on FEC’s website at www.fec.gov under Press Office.

Tables

PAC Financial Activity 2003-2004 [excel]  [pdf]

Summary of PAC Activity 1990-2004 [excel]  [pdf]

PAC Contributions to Candidates [excel]  [pdf]

PAC Contributions to Candidates 1994-2004 [excel]  [pdf]

PAC Contributions to House Campaigns by Candidate Status  [excel]  [pdf]

Charts of PAC Contributions to House Campaigns Over Time [pdf]

PACs Grouped by Total Disbursements [excel]  [pdf]

PACs Grouped by Contributions to Candidates [excel]  [pdf]

PAC Independent Expenditures [excel]  [pdf]

Top 50 PACs