The Spark Exposes Top 10 Money Leaders In Open Seat House Races

The majority of the wealthiest open-seat campaigns are fighting over a few privileged districts. The Spark Exposes Top 10 Money Leaders In Open-Seat House RacesBy Cliff Montgomery – Dec. 13th, 2007Most people know that in U.S. House races–as in all political match-ups–the incumbent usually possesses a distinct campaign fundraising advantage over the challengers. As in most election years, a number of House incumbents are not running for re-election in 2008. Some are ready to retire from the political arena, while others have decided to run for some other office.In such open-seat political contests, a candidate who has amassed a large campaign fortune can quickly become the party front-runner for the office. The added political clout for the candidate often brings in even more money and endorsements, since everyone wishes to back a perceived political “winner”.But a complication arises when numerous cash-rich candidates are vying for the same open seat.A rundown of this year’s top 10 fundraisers among candidates running to fill House vacancies in 2008 uncovers a distinct pattern: The majority of the wealthiest open-seat campaigns are fighting to represent a few privileged districts.The following American Spark compilation was based on the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports. The report data, which covers the 2007-2008 election cycle, was provided by the Center for Responsive Politics and CQ Politics, a news website affiliated with Congressional Quarterly Magazine. The dollar amounts have been rounded off for clarity.The filings reveal that three of the top fundraisers are Democrats fighting for a single seat: Colorado’s 2nd District, which winds from Boulder to suburban Denver. Five-term Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) is leaving the House next year for a U.S. Senate run.Three others among the top 10 fundraisers–one Democrat and two Republicans–are making a competitive run in Illinois’ 14th District. These candidates are running to fill the seat of 11-term Representative Dennis Hastert (R-IL), formerly the House Speaker.Last year’s sex scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) and his sexually explicit messages to teenage Congressional pageboys during Hastert’s tenure as Speaker was bad enough; but the former House Speaker’s bizarre refusal to hold Foley accountable for his wrong actions certainly was the last straw with voters. That final bit of hubris essentially forced Hastert to announce his resignation from Congress.The list gives the open-seat candidate’s name; their party affiliation; the state and district of the open seat; and then a total of the dollars raised by each candidate through Sept. 30th. Information on the departing incumbent appears at the end of each listing, in parentheses.1) Jared Polis–Democrat–Colorado’s 2nd District: $828,000 (Mark Udall, Democrat)2) Joan Fitz-Gerald–Democrat–Colorado’s 2nd District: $624,000 (Mark Udall, Democrat)3) Chris Lauzen–Republican–Illinois’ 14th District: $546,000 (Dennis Hastert, Republican)4) Bill Foster–Democrat–Illinois’ 14th District: $541,000 (Dennis Hastert, Republican)5) Will Shafroth–Democrat–Colorado’s 2nd District: $509,000 (Mark Udall, Democrat)6) Chellie Pingree–Democrat–Maine’s 1st District: $480,000 (Tom Allen, Democrat)7) Mary Jo Kilroy–Democrat–Ohio’s 15th District: $438,000 (Deborah Pryce, Republican)8) Jim Oberweis–Republican–Illinois’ 14th District: $422,000 (Dennis Hastert, Republican)9) Aaron Schock–Republican–Illinois’ 18th District: $376,000 (Ray LaHood, Republican)10) Martin Heinrich–Democrat–New Mexico’s 1st District: $320,000 (Heather A. Wilson, Republican)Discovering that seven Democratic candidates made the Top 10 fundraisers list for open-seat elections, compared with three Republicans, should not be a huge surprise. It underscores the trend of overall House fundraising, which shifted the Democrats’ way after the 2006 elections gave them control of the House.The three Democratic House candidates of Colorado’s 2nd District will have things especially easy in 2008. The 2nd District is decidedly Democratic, which practically ensures that one of them will succeed Rep. Udall.The campaign for the open seat in Illinois’ 14th District has become a particularly disgusting display of private wealth’s invasion of politics. All three of the listed Illinois candidates are independently wealthy–and each has poured a huge amount of personal capital into his campaign.Current campaign finance laws won’t allow you to directly buy a political position for someone else–but as the Illinois race proves, you can certainly make such a buy for yourself.Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!