Party committee fundraising through June 30

Republican party committees raised $409 million from January 2007 through June 30, 2008. This represents about a one-percent increase over a similar period in 2006, but reflects a 12-percent decline in funds raised during the first six months of the 2004 Presidential campaign. Democratic party committees continued to raise more money than in previous years, with total receipts of $351.1 million from January 2007 through June 30, 2008. This is an increase of 21 percent over a similar period in 2006 and 26 percent higher than in 2004. The charts on page 13 detail the fundraising totals over this period by all Democratic and all Republican committees, dating back to the 1998 election cycle.

Among national party committees, the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional Campaign committees (DSCC and DCCC) reported the largest gains in receipts since 2006, though the RNC total remains below the comparable figure for 2004. Receipts declined during the period for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican Senatorial and Congressional committees (NRSC and NRCC).

Individual contributions continue to be the largest source of funds for party committees. Republicans received $324 million from individuals (79 percent of their receipts), while Democrats received $265.6 million (76 percent of their total). All committees, except the DSCC, received more money in contributions of less than $200 each than in any other category. The DSCC received more in contributions of over $20,000 than in any other contribution category.

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 changed campaign contribution limits, increasing individual contributions to national parties to $25,000, adjusted for inflation. The inflation-adjusted limit for the 2007-2008 election cycle is $28,500.

Political action committees (PACs) and other committees contributed $36 million to Republican party committees and $63.8 million to Democratic party committees in 2007-2008. Much of this total is from House Democrats who contributed $29.8 million from their campaign accounts to the DCCC. House Republicans contributed $13.1 million to the NRCC.

Additional information is available in an FEC press release dated August 15, 2008. The release is available on the FEC web site.