An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

AN OVERVIEW OF STATE CAMPAIGNS,

2007-2008

By Denise Roth Barber

NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MONEY IN STATE POLITICS

April 06, 2010

This publication was made possible by grants from:

Ford Foundation
Foundation to Promote Open Society
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Sunlight Foundation

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 1 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Birds-Eye View of State Campaigns in 2007 and 2008

Legislative Campaigns
Money Raised by Legislators Not Up for Election

Races for the Governor's Mansion

Lieutenant Governor Races

Candidates' Own Money

Incumbents Not Up for Election

Judicial Races
Who Gives to State Candidates?
Financing State Political Parties
Who Gives to the Political Parties?

Ballot Measures Attract Record Millions

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 2 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

A BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF STATE CAMPAIGNS IN 2007 AND 2008

More than 15,000 candidates who sought offices ranging from the state legislature to the governor's seat raised
nearly $1.5 billion during state elections held in 2007 and 2008. State office-holders who were not up for
election raised an additional $172 million.

The $1.6 billion raised by candidates and office-holders during the 2007–2008 election cycle was slightly more
than the $1.4 billion raised during the comparable 2003–2004 elections.

In addition to the above $1.6 billion, committees organized around ballot measures raised $869 million, state
political parties raised nearly $370 million, and state legislative caucuses raised $178 million.

A review of the $3 billion raised in state campaigns during the 2007–2008 elections shows that:

Legislative campaigns were the most expensive ever. For the

first time, state legislative candidates broke the $1 billion mark. For the first time ever,
The $1 billion they raised was 9 percent more than the $962 legislative candidates
million raised in 2005–2006 elections, and 26 percent more than
raised more than $1
the $828.6 million raised in 2003–2004 elections.
billion in the 2008
State races were often not truly competitive. Nationwide, nearly election cycle
two-thirds of the state legislative races were contested during the
general elections. However, just one-third of those races were monetarily competitive. 1 The same was
observed in the gubernatorial races: although all 14 races were contested, just four were monetarily
competitive.

Office-holders attracted most of the cash. Winners attracted two-thirds of the money raised by those
running for election. Incumbents seeking re-election collected about half of the money.

Incumbents sought—and won—re-election in most races. Incumbents sought re-election in 84

percent of the seats up for election—with good reason: the power of incumbency led to a 93 percent
success rate.

Money and incumbency remained nearly unbeatable. Incumbent legislators who had larger war
chests than their challengers were nearly unbeatable—94 percent won their re-election campaigns.

Supreme Court campaigns stayed the course. Candidates running for a seat on their states' highest
court raised $43.5 million, comparable to what they raised in 2000 and 2004 (each about $46 million).
Partisan races, in which candidates identify with a political party during the election, attracted 71
percent of the money raised in high court races.

Democrats and Republicans were evenly-matched. Although Democrats fielded more candidates—
7,226 compared to Republicans' 6,301; they raised comparable amounts on average: $103,439 by
Democrats and $106,083 by Republicans.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 3 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

Ballot measures continued to amass millions. 210 measures were on the ballots in 2007 and 2008.
Together, these measures attracted $869 million, up dramatically from $648 million raised in 2005–
2006, when voters in 40 states faced 244 measures on the ballots. Measures related to gambling drew
the most attention in 2008, with high-rolling donors pouring $273 million into 12 measures in nine
states. Same-sex marriage measures came in a distant second, generating $120 million in three states.

Ballot measures were not grassroots campaigns. While ballot measures are widely regarded as a
means for direct citizen participation in lawmaking, individuals provided just 18 percent of the money
raised around measures. Instead, businesses and special interests were the primary financiers,
contributing more than two-thirds of the money.

Those not up for election still raised millions. Incumbent legislators and office-holders raised $172
million, most for future campaigns. Incumbents in California, Illinois and Texas received nearly half of
the money raised by these incumbents not up for election.

State political parties were a huge vehicle for campaign cash. The 100 Democratic and Republican
state political parties increased their campaign coffers by 25 percent from their 2003–2004 levels,
raising nearly $370 million compared to $297 million they raised in 2003–2004. Funds from political
parties are especially important funding mechanisms in the states that limit how much candidates can
raise—but do not limit money flowing to and from the parties.

1. Defined as when the top-funded candidate raised at least twice what the other candidates(s) raised.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 4 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS

Since most states do not hold gubernatorial races during presidential election years, campaigns for legislative
office dominated the fundraising—attracting two-thirds of the money raised by candidates running for state
office in 2007–2008.

TABLE 1: MONEY RAISED IN STATE CAMPAIGNS, 2007–2008 ELECTIONS

OFFICE-HOLDERS
OFFICE CANDIDATES NOT UP FOR TOTAL
ELECTION
Legislature $1,049,757,145 $52,841,541 $1,102,598,686
Governor/Lt. Governor $241,346,816 $69,787,509 $311,134,325
Other Statewide $109,455,538 $47,038,181 $156,493,719
Judicial $63,420,051 $2,592,271 $66,012,322
TOTAL $1,463,979,550 $172,259,502 $1,636,239,052

During the 2007–2008 elections, more than 6,400 state legislative seats were up for election across the country.
Nearly 14,000 candidates raised more than $1 billion while vying for those seats.

The 2,846 candidates who ran for 1,292 state senate seats raised $390 million, an average of $137,015 per
candidate. The 11,081 candidates who ran for 5,114 house/assembly seats raised $660 million, an average of
$59,545.

The median raised by general-election senate candidates was $55,501, more than double the $20,540 median
raised by those running for the state House/Assembly.

TABLE 2: AVERAGE AND MEDIAN RAISED BY LEGISLATIVE

CANDIDATES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, 2007–2008
NUMBER OF
CANDIDATES IN THE AVERAGE
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER GENERAL ELECTION RAISED MEDIAN RAISED

Senate 2,266 $157,699 $55,501

House/Assembly 8,883 $68,490 $20,540

TOTAL 11,149 $86,622 $25,165

Democratic and Republican candidates raised comparable amounts on average: 5,421 Democrats raised $506.8
million; 4,812 Republicans raised $451.5 million.

Nationwide, 67 percent of the general-election senate races and 64 percent of house races were contested.
However, of those contested races, 68 percent of the senate seats and 66 percent of the house seats were not
monetarily competitive; in other words, the top-funded candidate raised more than twice what the other
candidate(s) raised (For more information on how the Institute determines monetary competitiveness, click
http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 5 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

candidate(s) raised (For more information on how the Institute determines monetary competitiveness, click
here).

Eighty percent of the candidates who were uncontested in the general election were uncontested during the
primary elections as well.

Overall, just one-fourth (1,571) of all legislative races had contested primary elections. Most of those contests
(1,212) were house primaries. Michigan and Mississippi had the most contested primaries—each with 71—and
South Carolina was not too far behind with 67 contested primaries. The 2,568 candidates who were eliminated
in these primaries raised an average of $30,308, a median of $5,776.

The average cost of legislative races varied greatly among the states. California's general-election assembly
races averaged $888,491, while New Hampshire's house races averaged $4,472. A comparable disparity
between the two states was seen in 2003–2004 elections, as well.

Senate races are typically more expensive than house races. However, three states bucked that rule in 2007–
2008. In Oregon, the average senate race cost $171,996, while the average house race was $265,460. And in
Indiana, the average race for the Senate cost $139,215, while the average house race cost $166,549. In Arizona,
where legislative candidates receive public funding, the average general-election senate race was $84,994, while
the average house race was almost double at $156,905. That disparity can be explained in part by the public
funds received: house candidates received, on average, $115,147 of public funds, which is 73 percent of the cost
of the average house race. Senate candidates garnered 55 percent of their funds from public funding.

Winners raked in $743 million, 71 percent of all the money raised by legislative candidates. Those who lost in
the general election raised just $222 million, while those who lost in the primary raised $78 million.

Incumbents who sought re-election raised 77 percent of the money raised in their races. On average,
incumbents raised $109,818, while their challengers averaged just $32,155.

Given the power of incumbency and their significantly heftier campaign coffers, legislative incumbents were
nearly unbeatable—95 percent won their re-election campaigns.

Just one-fifth of the legislative races were open, where the incumbent did
not seek re-election. In these races, those who raised the most money Legislative incumbents
enjoyed a 76 percent success rate. were nearly unbeatable
—95 percent were re-
TABLE 3: COST OF GENERAL-ELECTION
LEGISLATIVE RACES, 2007–2008* elected

SENATE HOUSE
STATE SENATE TOTAL AVERAGE HOUSE TOTAL AVERAGE

Alaska $862,007 $86,201 $2,728,693 $68,217

Arizona $2,549,830 $84,994 $4,677,152 $155,905

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 6 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

Arkansas $2,017,603 $112,089 $4,236,952 $42,370

California $28,245,063 $1,412,253 $71,079,242 $888,491

Colorado $2,401,834 $126,412 $5,341,734 $82,181

Connecticut $5,207,196 $144,644 $5,262,324 $34,850

Delaware $1,000,905 $100,090 $2,286,889 $55,778

Florida $11,259,735 $536,178 $25,876,533 $215,638

Georgia $6,258,805 $111,764 $11,538,108 $64,101

Hawaii $1,930,180 $160,848 $2,791,154 $54,729

Idaho $1,535,698 $43,877 $2,376,609 $33,952

Illinois $22,733,532 $568,338 $39,569,825 $335,338

Indiana $3,480,374 $139,215 $16,654,890 $166,549

Iowa $5,042,923 $201,717 $15,269,249 $152,692

Kansas $5,204,004 $130,100 $5,015,513 $40,124

Kentucky $4,840,809 $254,779 $4,726,520 $47,265

Louisiana $16,687,268 $427,879 $19,770,577 $190,102

Maine $1,775,707 $50,734 $1,632,899 $10,814

Massachusetts $7,361,231 $184,031 $12,484,305 $78,027

Michigan N/A N/A $13,062,027 $118,746

Minnesota N/A N/A $8,191,541 $61,131

Mississippi $4,544,606 $87,396 $5,529,492 $45,324

Missouri $7,480,507 $440,030 $13,127,303 $80,536

Montana $668,772 $26,751 $1,609,957 $16,100

Nebraska $2,874,728 $110,566 N/A N/A

Nevada $4,429,850 $442,985 $7,843,936 $186,760

New Hampshire $2,524,485 $105,187 $460,594 $4,472

New Jersey $22,013,042 $550,326 $19,183,526 $479,588

New Mexico $3,519,670 $83,802 $3,621,026 $51,729

New York $43,866,132 $707,518 $21,566,093 $143,774

North Carolina $14,530,667 $290,613 $13,215,479 $110,129

North Dakota $437,998 $19,043 $395,533 $17,197

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 7 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

Ohio $10,519,593 $657,475 $33,231,610 $335,673

Oklahoma $6,607,587 $275,316 $9,554,982 $94,604

Oregon $2,735,938 $170,996 $15,927,576 $265,460

Pennsylvania $19,325,222 $773,009 $43,286,041 $213,232

Rhode Island $1,540,254 $40,533 $2,357,104 $31,428

South Carolina $8,936,420 $194,270 $6,682,497 $53,891

South Dakota $1,956,772 $55,908 $1,380,636 $37,314

Tennessee $6,525,315 $407,832 $7,931,285 $80,114

Texas $17,582,391 $1,172,159 $64,472,778 $429,819

Utah $2,039,254 $135,950 $3,439,687 $45,862

Vermont $403,797 $31,061 $778,987 $7,213

Virginia $29,672,959 $741,824 $31,530,213 $315,302

Washington $6,030,548 $231,944 $14,774,173 $150,757

West Virginia $1,887,409 $111,024 $3,551,687 $61,236

Wisconsin $4,072,434 $254,527 $7,655,752 $77,331

Wyoming $224,039 $14,002 $719,877 $11,998

TOTAL $357,345,096 $608,400,563

* Alabama and Maryland did not have legislative races in the 2007–2008 election period. Michigan and Minnesota had no
senate seats up for election, while Nebraska has a unicameral (one-body) legislature.

MONEY RAISED BY LEGISLATORS NOT UP FOR ELECTION

The 759 lawmakers who were not up for election in 2007–2008 nonetheless raised nearly $53 million. Sitting
senators in 28 states, who typically have a four-year term, raised $47 million. The state representatives in three
states—Alabama, Maryland and North Dakota—that also have four-year terms, raised nearly $5.5 million.

Twenty California state senators together amassed $9.9 million during their off-election year, followed closely
by 16 Texas senators who raised $8 million. 184 legislators in Maryland raised $9.4 million.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 8 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

RACES FOR THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Just 14 states held gubernatorial races in 2007 and 2008, typical of a presidential election year. The candidates
raised $241 million, which is 12 percent more than the $215 million raised in the comparable 2003–2004
elections.2 Incumbent governors and lieutenant governors not up for election raised an additional $69.8 million.

North Carolina and Louisiana held the two most expensive races. The open race in North Carolina, which
garnered $41 million, cost more than twice the $18.7 million in 2004. However, it was $9 million less than the
cost of the open race in 2000, which garnered $32 million.

TABLE 4: TOTAL RAISED IN GOVERNOR'S RACES, 2007–2008

PERCENT
LT. GOVERNOR CHANGE
STATE GOVERNOR RACE RACE TOTAL FROM 2004

North Carolina* $31,909,644 $9,139,752 $41,049,396 119%

Louisiana* $35,117,604 $5,333,745 $40,451,350 16%

Kentucky $36,926,540 $0 $36,926,540 48%

Missouri* $25,804,426 $6,346,436 $32,150,862 10%

Indiana $26,741,520 $0 $26,741,520 -21%

Washington $23,395,431 $227,268 $23,622,699 69%

Mississippi† $17,883,586 $5,624,993 $23,508,579 -5%

Delaware* $4,816,242 $1,043,522 $5,859,764 74%

Montana $2,511,503 $0 $2,511,503 -26%

North Dakota $2,354,586 $0 $2,354,586 13%

Vermont $1,970,638 $271,504 $2,242,143 31%

West Virginia $1,657,701 $0 $1,657,701 -85%

New Hampshire $1,284,484 $0 $1,284,484 -80%

Utah $981,672 $4,018 $985,691 -85%

TOTAL $212,693,269 $28,653,548 $241,346,816 12%

*The governor's race was open, but the lieutenant governor ran for re-election.
† The governor sought re-election, but the lieutenant governor's race was open.

Gubernatorial races were monetarily competitiveduring the general election in just four of the 14 states:

Kentucky's then-incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher was defeated by Democratic challenger Steven
Beshear. Fletcher raised $7.6 million, 31 percent less than the $11 million raised by Beshear.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 9 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

The 2007 open Louisiana race saw three candidates raising large sums. Republican Gov. Jindal, who
won handily, raised $13.7 million, followed closely by $12.6 million raised by John Georges, who came
in a distant third, and Walter Boasso, who raised $7 million.

Missouri's open race was the least monetarily competitive. Jay Nixon, who won with 58 percent of the
vote, raised $15 million. By comparison, his Republican opponent, Kenny Hulshof, raised $8.5 million
and received just 39 percent of the vote.

The 2008 re-match between Gregoire and Rossi in Washington was once again highly competitive.
Rossi, who very narrowly lost to Christine Gregoire in 2004, raised $11.5 million, while Gregoire raised
$11.8 million. Gov. Gregoire fended off Rossi's challenge, garnering 53 percent of the vote.

Incumbent governors sought re-election in eight of the 10 races that were not monetarily competitive. In the
other races, incumbents from a different office were running to fill the open seats.

Incumbency was a key component to victory. All but one of the 10

incumbent governors up for re-election won. The exception to the rule was All but one of the 10
then-Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who was soundly defeated in 2007 by incumbent governors
Democratic challenger, Steven Beshear. Fletcher was also the only
up for re-election won
incumbent who raised less than the challenger. Fletcher raised $7.6
million, about two-thirds of the $11 million raised by Beshear.

The size of a candidate's war chest also played a key role in determining who went on to become governor. The
winners of all 14 contests had one thing in common: more money than any of their opponents.

In the four states with open races (where the incumbent governor did not seek re-election)—Delaware,
Louisiana, Missouri and North Carolina—all four winners raised more money than their competitors.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RACES

Eight states held separate general elections for lieutenant governor. These races attracted nearly $28 million. In
the five races where an incumbent sought re-election, the races garnered $12.2 million, while the races for three
open seats raised $15.8 million.

As with the governor's race, North Carolina's lieutenant governor's race was the most expensive, attracting just
over $9 million. However, the winner of that race, Democrat Walter Dalton, who was riding on the coattails of
his running mate, Bev Perdue, raised just $2.5 million, less than half the $5.5 million raised by his Republican
opponent, Robert Pittenger.

CANDIDATES' OWN MONEY

Money from the candidates' own pockets accounted for nearly one of every five dollars raised in the
gubernatorial elections. Of the 146 candidates who ran for governor or lieutenant governor, 60 gave $47 million
of their own money to their own campaign. That turned out to be a poor investment, however, because none of
the 23 candidates who self-financed a majority of their campaign won. In fact, 15 were eliminated during the
primary election.
http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 10 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

primary election.

INCUMBENTS NOT UP FOR ELECTION

34 sitting governors collected $53 million in contributions during the 2007–2008 election cycle, when they were
not up for election. Leading the pack was California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who raised $14.4 million.
While incumbents often raise money during their off-election years for future races, this was not the case with
Schwarzenegger, who is prevented from seeking re-election in 2010 due to the state's term limits.

In distant second was Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who raised $10 million. That money can go toward his 2010 re-
election campaign.

Twenty sitting lieutenant governors raised $14.5 million. Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst topped the list with
$4.6 million, followed closely by Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.

2. The 2004 total used here excludes the $31 million raised during the special California gubernatorial recall election held in 2004.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 11 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

JUDICIAL RACES

In 2007 and 2008, 69 high court seats were up for election in 33 states, and 191 appellate seats were up for
election in 30 states.

Nearly $62 million was raised by judicial candidates: $43.5 million in high court races and $18 million raised in
appellate races.

Partisan races, in which candidates identify with a political party during the election, attracted most of the
money—71 percent of all the money raised by high court candidates and 82 percent of the money raised in
appellate races. Nonpartisan races, in which candidates are not listed on the ballot with a party affiliation,
accounted for 28 percent of the money raised in high court races and 17 percent of the money raised in all
appellate races. Retention elections—in which the current judge is placed on the ballot and voters choose
whether the judge remains in office—attracted very little money.

Nearly one-half (48 percent) of the money raised by judicial candidates came from two sources: lawyers and
lobbyists, and the candidates themselves. Lawyers, lobbyists and their firms gave more than $18 million, which
was 29 percent of the money raised by all judicial candidates. Candidates gave $11.6 million of their own
money, or 19 percent of the money raised.

The Institute also examined the money raised by high-court and appellate
candidates in 2007–2008 to determine if a correlation existed between Lawyers, lobbyists, and
state-level judicial candidates' electoral success, their ability to raise their firms gave more
money, and their ethnicity, race or gender. The report, Diversity in than $18 million to
State Judicial Campaigns, 2007–2008, found that women and
members of ethnic or racial minorities were underrepresented on the
judicial candidates
ballot. But once on the ballot, the advantage of incumbency and the ability
to raise money played key roles in the success of a campaign, regardless of a candidate's gender or ethnicity.

TABLE 5: TOTAL RAISED BY HIGH COURT AND APPELLATE COURT

CANDIDATES, 2007–2008
TOTAL TO COURT
STATE HIGH COURTS APPELLATE COURTS CANDIDATES

Pennsylvania $9,464,975 $3,985,214 $13,450,189

Texas $4,406,234 $4,114,643 $8,520,877

Alabama $4,472,621 $1,481,925 $5,954,546

Louisiana $3,686,879 $1,155,709 $4,842,588

Ohio $2,448,388 $1,757,237 $4,205,625

Wisconsin $3,522,803 $641,460 $4,164,262

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 12 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

West Virgina $3,303,480 $0 $3,303,480

Illinois $1,091,092 $2,174,231 $3,265,323

Nevada $3,135,214 $0 $3,135,214

Michigan $2,614,260 $443,169 $3,057,429

Mississippi $2,976,446 $0 $2,976,446

Georgia $389,102 $779,783 $1,168,884

North Carolina $178,273 $804,864 $983,137

Washington $417,034 $218,128 $635,161

Arkansas $86,635 $521,438 $608,073

Kentucky $515,711 $0 $515,711

Montana $334,446 $0 $334,446

Idaho $243,190 $0 $243,190

Minnesota $196,402 $34,050 $230,452

New Mexico $51,656 $0 $51,656

Oregon $7,525 $2,172 $9,697

TOTAL $43,542,365 $18,114,023 $61,695,388

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 13 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

WHO GIVES TO STATE CANDIDATES?

The Institute classifies contributors according to their economic interests, relying on the occupation and/or
employer information of the donors as provided by the reports, and performing additional research as needed.

Using this information, the Institute is able to analyze giving by economic sectors across state lines to discover
patterns of giving. The following table shows contributions by economic sector to all candidates running for
state-level offices in 2007–2008 elections.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 14 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

FINANCING STATE POLITICAL PARTIES

Political parties provide another important vehicle for raising money for state candidates. This is especially true
in those states that limit how much donors can give to candidates, but do not limit state political parties.

During the 2007–2008 elections, 100 Democratic and Republican state party committees raised nearly $370
million. An additional $178 million was raised by 141 legislative caucuses.3

Nationally, the 100 state political parties raised $73 million more in 2007–2008 than they raised in 2003–2004,
a 25 percent increase. The increase was due in large part to the money raised in three states: the state parties in
California and Florida raised $16 million more in 2008 than they raised in 2004, while in Ohio, an additional
$14.5 million more than had been raised in 2004. Together, the party committees in these three states accounted
for nearly two-thirds of the $72 million increase from 2004 to 2008.

Democratic state party committees raised nearly $200 million, which is 16 percent more than the $170 million
raised by the 50 Republican state committees. The state party committees in California and Florida once again
were the top two money-raisers, as they have been since 2000.4

State political parties in half the states raised less than they did in 2004. Parties in the other 25 states raised
more than in 2004. Party committees in South Carolina, Montana, Virginia and Mississippi experienced the
greatest increase over their 2004 levels.

TABLE 6: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 100 STATE PARTY COMMITTEES,

2007–2008
TO DEMOCRATIC TO REPUBLICAN CONTRIBUTIONS PERCENT
STATE RANK PARTY PARTY TOTAL CHANGE

Alabama 22 $2,960,592 $1,344,874 $4,305,466 99.9%

Alaska 48 $60,789 $203,583 $264,373 -45.6%

Arizona 21 $4,053,106 $672,919 $4,726,025 -7.5%

Arkansas 25 $2,071,024 $1,255,367 $3,326,391 23.0%

California 1 $28,220,511 $31,231,424 $59,451,935 38.8%

Colorado 42 $176,378 $389,416 $565,794 -32.2%

Connecticut 45 $167,814 $234,428 $402,241 -50.9%

Delaware 30 $2,056,805 $660,190 $2,716,995 21.1%

Florida 2 $15,597,356 $37,246,976 $52,844,332 44.3%

Georgia 14 $2,236,189 $6,046,085 $8,282,274 -36.8%

Hawaii 43 $199,560 $345,280 $544,840 -72.2%

Idaho 40 $226,745 $444,871 $671,616 50.4%

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 15 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

Illinois 15 $4,699,896 $3,448,626 $8,148,522 -23.7%

Indiana 5 $10,619,223 $5,881,393 $16,500,616 33.7%

Iowa 7 $9,031,941 $4,334,366 $13,366,307 54.7%

Kansas 37 $1,310,615 $309,790 $1,620,405 31.6%

Kentucky 34 $1,044,011 $964,478 $2,008,489 -19.1%

Louisiana* 23 $1,842,903 $2,306,092 $4,148,996 -32.3%

Maine 32 $1,571,822 $948,773 $2,520,595 82.8%

Maryland 31 $1,901,285 $674,156 $2,575,441 1.8%

Massachusetts 28 $2,286,243 $596,960 $2,883,203 -18.5%

Michigan 17 $4,120,834 $2,628,190 $6,749,024 -14.5%

Minnesota 19 $4,712,731 $1,533,365 $6,246,096 -16.4%

Mississippi* 16 $371,870 $6,841,259 $7,213,129 254.2%

Missouri 6 $7,559,293 $5,858,603 $13,417,896 -39.5%

Montana 20 $3,555,356 $2,591,728 $6,147,084 319.6%

Nebraska 38 $597,400 $483,904 $1,081,304 58.6%

Nevada 18 $5,024,761 $1,284,881 $6,309,642 155.3%

New Hampshire 36 $1,507,150 $300,254 $1,807,403 29.0%

New Jersey* 12 $6,101,228 $3,979,309 $10,080,538 -32.6%

New Mexico 33 $644,581 $1,491,602 $2,136,184 55.3%

New York 13 $6,157,030 $2,247,660 $8,404,691 -25.4%

North Carolina 9 $10,596,016 $2,286,993 $12,883,009 41.6%

North Dakota 29 $1,580,671 $1,299,731 $2,880,402 38.3%

Ohio 3 $15,621,231 $8,493,568 $24,114,799 149.9%

Oklahoma 41 $97,381 $468,955 $566,335 -26.2%

Oregon 39 $391,329 $345,774 $737,103 -52.3%

Pennsylvania 4 $8,514,836 $9,631,010 $18,145,846 62.1%

Rhode Island 46 $178,501 $209,151 $387,652 -37.2%

South Carolina 27 $1,350,673 $1,671,368 $3,022,041 433.1%

South Dakota 44 $208,061 $252,838 $460,899 -50.1%

Tennessee 24 $2,012,169 $2,071,715 $4,083,884 -5.2%

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 16 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

Texas 11 $5,641,698 $4,590,761 $10,232,458 151.7%

Utah 26 $1,558,878 $1,664,006 $3,222,883 112.7%

Vermont 49 $59,937 $77,382 $137,319 -51.3%

Virginia* 8 $9,323,755 $3,701,795 $13,025,550 260.9%

Washington 10 $8,472,631 $3,580,426 $12,053,057 -5.5%

West Virginia 50 $101,054 $1,242 $102,296 -19.2%

Wisconsin 35 $681,807 $1,126,998 $1,808,805 -0.5%

Wyoming 47 $221,498 $88,091 $309,590 -69.3%

TOTAL $199,299,169 $170,342,606 $369,641,776 25.00%

* Election was held in 2007

WHO GIVES TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES?

State political parties relied heavily on other party committees and candidate committees, which provided
$128.5 million—one-third of the money raised by the 100 state parties. This was similar to 2003–2004, when
they provided 30 percent of the money raised.

Businesses and special interests, which gave a collective total of $127 million, were the next-largest source of
funds, providing 34 percent of the money raised by state political parties. Individual donors, on the other hand,
provided just 19 percent of the money raised.

TABLE 7: CONTRIBUTIONS TO STATE POLITICAL PARTIES, BY TYPE OF

CONTRIBUTOR, 2007–2008
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN
TYPE OF CONTRIBUTOR STATE PARTIES STATE PARTIES TOTAL

Political Parties And Candidates $75,418,291 $53,037,748 $128,456,039

Businesses & Special Interests $55,817,928 $71,452,341 $127,270,269

Individuals $32,677,865 $37,559,167 $70,237,032

Labor Organizations $31,048,849 $1,924,232 $32,973,081

Unitemized Donations $1,899,906 $3,285,326 $5,185,232

Leadership Committees $1,807,492 $2,677,833 $4,485,325

Public Funds $628,838 $405,959 $1,034,797

TOTAL $199,299,169 $170,342,606 $369,641,776

Donors from three of the six top industries showed a significant preference for Democratic parties. The public
sector and general trade unions together gave $26.5 million more to Democratic state parties, and lawyers and
lobbyists gave $8 million more.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 17 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

TABLE 8: TOP-CONTRIBUTING INDUSTRIES TO STATE PARTY

COMMITTEES, 2007–2008
TO DEMOCRATIC TO REPUBLICAN
TOP INDUSTRY STATE PARTIES STATE PARTIES TOTAL

Public Sector Unions $17,841,563 $1,686,902 $19,528,465

Lawyers & Lobbyists $13,016,507 $4,453,976 $17,470,483

Real Estate $5,199,980 $9,381,195 $14,581,174

Gambling & Casinos $2,036,756 $8,826,530 $10,863,286

General Trade Unions $10,544,304 $174,040 $10,718,344

Securities & Investment $5,475,985 $4,798,568 $10,274,553

TOTAL $54,115,094 $29,321,211 $83,436,305

Favoring Republican party committees were donors from real estate, gambling and casinos interests —together,
they gave nearly $11 million more to Republican state parties.

3. Given the changing nature of legislative caucuses over time, it is not feasible to make a cycle-to-cycle comparison of the money
these legislative caucuses raised. Therefore the analysis in this report focuses on the money raised by the 100 Democratic and
Republican state political parties in the 50 states.
4. The Institute began collecting party committee reports in all 50 states beginning in 2000.

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 18 of 19
An Overview of State Campaigns, 2007-2008 4/7/10 12:57 PM

BALLOT MEASURES ATTRACT RECORD MILLIONS

In 2008, voters in 36 states faced 172 ballot measures that covered a broad spectrum of issues, from property
taxes and school funding to hot-button issues around same-sex marriage and abortion.

Committees that organized around ballot measures brought in nearly $814

million, significantly higher than seen in previous years: $55.4 million in Committees that
2007, $684.4 million in 2006, $466.1 million in 2005, and $505.1 million organized around ballot
in 2004.
measures brought in
Gambling drew the most attention and money in 2008, as high-rolling nearly $814 million,
donors poured $273.2 million into 12 measures in nine states. Same-sex significantly higher
marriage measures generated $120.4 million in three states.
than in previous years
While ballot measures are widely regarded as a means for direct citizen
participation in lawmaking, a close look at who funds the campaigns around the measures shows a different
story. Individuals provided just 18 percent of the money raised around measures. Instead, businesses and special
interests were the primary financiers, contributing more than two-thirds of the money. Labor organizations
provided 11 percent of the money.

California measures attracted far and away the most money, at $471.6 million. Second-ranked Ohio trailed with
$86.5 million. Colorado measures brought in $73 million. A dozen states saw no money raised around their
ballot measures at all.

Seventy-two percent of ballot measure contributions came from donors within the state deciding the question.

For a detailed look at the money raised around 2008 ballot measures, see the Institute's report, 2008 Ballot
Measure Overview.

2007 BALLOT MEASURES

Voters in nine states considered 38 very diverse ballot measures in 2007. The Institute focused on 12 major
ballot measures in six states—Alaska, Maine, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington—and analyzed the money
raised by the committees that raised money to support or oppose those measures.

For a detailed look at the money raised around the 12 high-profile measures in 2007, see the Institute's report,
2007 Ballot Measures: Overview of 12 High-Profile Measures.

—END—

http://www.followthemoney.org/press/PrintReportView.phtml?r=420 Page 19 of 19