8/14/2019 Fact Sheet - Who Gets
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IncumbentsOut-RaiseChallengers5to1 Incumbent candidates for the
House raised an average
of $1.4 million in 2008, more than four times theamount raised
by challengers and more than twice theamount raised by open seat
candidates.
Incumbent candidates for the Senate raised an averageof $8.7
million, almost six times more than challengersand nearly four
times more than open seat candidates.
In keeping with historical trends, incumbents wereoverwhelmingly
reelected in 2008, winning 94% ofHouse races and 86% of Senate
races.
MajorIndustriesStronglyFavorIncumbents
Incumbent candidates received the lions share ofcampaign
contributions from major industry groups in2008, regardless of
political party.
Energy industry contributors, including oil, gas,electric, and
coal interests, directed 82 percent of theircampaign contributions
to incumbents in 2008.
Wall Street contributors, including the finance andinsurance
industry, directed 74 percent of theircampaign contributions to
incumbents in 2008.
Pharmaceutical industry contributors directed 89percent of their
giving to incumbents in 2008.
IndustryTargetsKeyCommitteeMembers
Energy interests contributed an average of $393,000 and$280,000
to Senate and House members of the keyenergy and environmental
committees, 3 to 6 timestheir average giving to all Members.
Finance and insurance interests contributed an averageof $2.2
million and $1.5 million respectively to Senate
and House members of key financial, banking, and taxcommittees,
10 times their average for all Members. Pharmaceutical interests
contributed an average of
$210,432 and $163,280, respectively, to Senate andHouse members
of key health, tax, and regulatorycommittees, 3 to 6 times their
average for all Members.
Fig. 1: Avg. Funding per Incumbent, Challenger,Open Seat
Candidate, 2008 (millions)
Fig. 2: Percentage of House and SenateIncumbents Reelected,
1990-2008
Fig. 3: Percentage of Industry Contributions toIncumbents v.
Challengers, 2008
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0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Energy Finance/Insurance Pharma
Incumbents Challengers
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
Senate
Incumbent Challenger Open Seat
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08
House Senate
$0
$0.25
$0.50
$0.75
$1.00
$1.25
$1.50
House
MoneyinPolitics: WhoGets
FACTSHEET
Sources: Analysis of Federal Election Commission [www.fec.gov]
and
Center for Responsive Politics [www.opensecrets.org] data
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.youstreet.org/http://www.youstreet.org/
