Posted on 11/07/2018 5:11:04 PM PST by lasereye
This year’s midterm elections are shaping up to be record-breaking for several reasons. More women have been elected to Congress than ever before, and voter turnout was at an all-time high. But it was also record-breaking for the sheer amount of money spent. The numbers are still being tallied, but according to the Center for Responsive Politics, we are on track for an election cost of more than $5 billion.
As the dust settles and the final votes roll in, many are asking: was it worth it?
The short answer is… it depends. Democrats spent $801 million to take back the House — a good bit more than the $547 million spent by Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Currently, it is forecasted that Democrats will walk away with 229 House seats, a net gain of 34 seats.
In Maryland’s 6th district, Democrats spent more than $15 million to ensure a victory for David Trone. His opponent, Amie Hoebar, spent less than $1 million.
Further south, Abigail Spanberger was able to flip Virginia’s traditionally conservative 7th district over incumbent Republican Dave Brat. Her campaign shelled out $5.3 million, compared to Brat’s $1.8 million.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 89% of House races were won by the biggest spender – a pretty good record.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
I was close to leaving Maine in 2010. Then LePage came and there was 8 years of some semblance of sanity. Now I’m stuck here for family reasons, about to live in a Venezuela north. So I feel your pain
I think they get their money from tax money and then they launder it to cover the theft.
How many citizens health care could the Democrats spending have funded? Seems they are more interested in power than health care!
I was wondering about your district and figured as much.
Yep. Corporate media, corporate America bought the House for the democrats. Who do people think democrats represent? It’s not the common man. People need to get over that notion.
I saw a woman interviewed by Steve ado you yesterday who said she was voting Democrat because of healthcare. She said her brother in law died a few weeks ago as he didn’t have healthcare. And I’m thinking ‘but the Dems passed the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. Why couldn’t he afford healthcar’. Stupid Dems don’t see the dichotomy. My younger brother couldn’t afford healthcare and had to pay the fine, which he also couldn’t afford. He was a Bernie supporter before he passed away last year. He hadn’t been to a Dr in years, even though there were two free clinics in his town.
THAT is an AWESOME meme!!!!
THAT is an AWESOME meme!!!!
Mmmhmm. Same.
Mmmhmm. Same.
Special interests spent $5B this year to influence how corrupt insiders in office spend $5T of our tax dollars each year. I’d call that a great investment - if you ignore the gigantic ethical issue of stealing from the taxpayers.
It provided employment & boosted Trump’s economy!!!
Another WIN WIN !!!
I think there was more than money at work.
And yet when Brat defeated Cantor he was outspent better than 50-1.
There’s more to it than money. With good ideas and organization and motivated people you can overcome any monetary disadvantage.
I think the biggest problem may be that so many state orgs are plagued with leadership that would rather a Democrat win than see conservatives succeed.
Brat raised $206,000 through May 21, and at least an additional $16,600 after that, while Cantor raised $5.1 million, and another $298,000 just since May 21.
The majority leader brought in $2.1 million from PACs. Not a single PAC gave to Brat’s effort.
Cantor had hundreds of donors who maxed out their donations to him — $2,600 for the primary race — while Brat had 12 donors who gave the maximum amount, one of whom is a family member.
Cantor received just 21 percent of his campaign cash from Virginia residents, according to OpenSecrets’ latest analysis, which covers large individual donations (over $200) from 2013. Brat didn’t even raise money in 2013, but in 2014, 81 percent of the money from his large individual donors came from Virginia residents.
Cantor raised at least as much from donors living in D.C. ($193,000 in 2013 alone) as Brat raised overall. The challenger received just $50 from the District.
Yes, you’re right. My first question for the local, state candidates, how many doors did you knock on. If you’re running for state senate in Maine, you should aim to hit 10000 doors. You’re hitting about 80% of available households in a district. Some you won’t get to, no treaspassing, folks not answering the door, ect. If you don’t have the time to do this, don’t run. Making a personal connection with the voter is vital in small town/small city politics.
This was an open senate seat. The republican, I’m guessing didn’t knock on doors. I could be wrong but that’s my guess. I don’t think the dem did either. But he’s well know in Auburn, a huge chunk of the district. Combined with the huge money advantage of 300000 to 100000 in spending turned a safe r seat into a one point win.
It broke my heart.
i will ACTIVELY help with the campaign in 2020.
I know Grim was a little ####ed up in the head but he would have brought the fight to this guy at least.
I took this R vote for granted.
Won’t next time.
Family reasons..me too.
Mother about to turn 86 and I’m the only child that still lives on Staten Island
People make it sound like it’s so easy to leave you home county/city/state but sometimes it’s not.
And when I will be able to leave, it will be a sad time because it will have meant mom has passed.
We are where we are, you and I, and must make the best of it.
I wish you the best.
Who gets this money? Most of it goes to the media, right?
If you read the full article you'll see this:
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 89% of House races were won by the biggest spender – a pretty good record.
If you're going to claim no connection between spending and election outcomes, then that has to be regarded as an amazing coincidence. I would like to know what that percentage was in races where someone got outspent by at least 2-1. I'm guessing it was even higher.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.