Welcome to the Friday, February 4, Brew.
By: Douglas Kronaizl
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Democratic and Republican party committees raised a combined $792 million in 2021
- Indiana’s partisan candidate filing deadline is today
- #FridayTrivia: How many U.S. House elections feature two incumbents running in the same district (so far)?
Democratic and Republican party committees raised a combined $792 million in 2021
The six major party national committees raised a combined $792 million in 2021, less than they raised in 2020’s presidential election year but more than they raised in 2018 and 2019. The committees recently filed year-end reports with the Federal Election Commission.
Democrats and Republicans each have three major committees: a committee dedicated to U.S. Senate elections, a committee dedicated to U.S. House elections, and a national committee focused on party candidates around the country. Combined, Republican committees raised 3.7% more than Democratic committees in 2021 ($403.5 million to $388.8 million).
December was the ninth consecutive month in which the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) outraised the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). In 2021, the NRSC raised 13.9% more than the DSCC ($104.8 million to $91.2 million). At this point in the 2020 election cycle, the NRSC has raised 7.3% more than the DSCC.
December was also the first month since June in which the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) outraised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Both House committees raised more than their Senate counterparts. The DCCC raised 4.4% more than the NRCC in 2021 ($146.3 million to $140.0 million). At this point in the 2020 election cycle, the DCCC had raised 37.8% more than the NRCC.
Both party’s national committees raised the most money in 2021. The RNC raised 4.7% more than the DNC ($158.6 million to $151.3 million). At this time in the 2020 cycle, the RNC led the DNC by a larger 90.2% margin.
Heading into 2022, the Democratic and Republican House committees have the most cash available while their respective Senate counterparts have the least on hand. All committees but the RNC have more cash available today than they did at the start of 2021.
Indiana’s partisan candidate filing deadline is today
Candidates seeking office in Indiana have until noon today to submit the necessary materials to appear on a party’s primary ballot. Primaries will be held on May 3.
Here’s a quick look at what offices voters will decide this year:
- U.S. Senate: Incumbent U.S. Senator Todd Young (R) is seeking re-election to a second term. Young was first elected in 2016 after defeating former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh (D). Four Democrats have announced their candidacies as well as two other Republicans. Election forecasting outlets rate the race as Solid Republican.
- U.S. House: All nine of the state’s U.S. House districts will hold elections under new maps after redistricting. One incumbent—the 9th District’s Trey Hollingsworth (R)—announced he would not seek re-election. Republicans currently hold seven seats and Democrats hold two.
- State executives: There are three state executive offices up for election in 2022, all currently held by Republicans: secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor. Incumbents are seeking re-election in all races except for treasurer where incumbent Kelly Mitchell (R) is term-limited. The last Democrat to hold any of these three offices was Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett (D), who served as secretary of state from 1989 to 1994.
- State legislature: Twenty-five of the 50 state Senate seats will be up for election along with all 100 state House seats. Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both chambers: 39-10 in the Senate and 71-29 in the House. Democrats have not held a majority in the Senate since 1978 and most recently held a majority in the House in 2010.
Indiana has the sixth statewide filing deadline of the 2022 election cycle. Texas’ was first, on Dec. 13, 2021.
Several states’ filing deadlines have changed due to redistricting and legal challenges over new maps. This was the case in North Carolina where the state supreme court suspended the state’s December filing deadline in response to a lawsuit. The Wake County Superior Court later moved the deadline to March, though the lawsuit is still ongoing.
Lawsuits in Alabama and Ohio have also necessitated new deadlines. In Kentucky, legislators moved the deadline from the start of January to the end of the month in order to finish redistricting.
Indiana is one of eight states with a candidate filing deadline in January or February. Under the current schedules, 18 states’ candidate filing deadlines are slated for March followed by 12 across April and May. Ten states’ deadlines don’t come until June and July.
#FridayTrivia: How many U.S. House elections feature two incumbents running in the same district (so far)?
Earlier this week, we looked at the U.S. House races where two incumbents have announced they will run against each other in the same district. This often happens after redistricting when redrawn maps can move or compel incumbents to run against one another for re-election.
As things stand today, how many U.S. House elections feature two incumbents running in the same district?
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