WASHINGTON – CUNA has been pouring tens of thousands of dollars into open House races, those where no incumbent is running, as the campaigns approach the final days of the congressional elections.
"The open seat races are where we can really make a difference," Trey Hawkins, CUNA’s political director, told The Credit Union Journal yesterday. In the last few weeks CUNA’s fundraising topped $3.75 million for the two-year election cycle, a new high, according to Hawkins. That puts CUNA among the leading campaign finance operations on Capitol Hill.
Over the last few months increasing resources have been devoted to open races. In the past, CUNA has seen opportunity in open races because of the chance to help allies get elected to Congress. But also because very few incumbents, fewer than 5%, lose campaigns for reelection, so the best opportunities are always in open races.
CUNA has contributed to 29 of the 35 open races in the House, a total of $225,500, and to all four of the open races in the Senate, a total of $40,000.
Among the open House races keyed on by CUNA are the one to succeed Republican Kenny Hulshof of Missouri, where CUNA has contributed $100,000 to Democratic State Rep. Judy Baker, including $90,000 in independent campaign ads in the last two weeks.
CUNA also made PAC contributions in recent days to: Baker ($10,000); Democrat Chellie Pingree in Maine ($5,000); Republican Jason Chafetz in Utah ($1,500); Republican Mike Coffman in Colorado ($10,000); Republican Ed Tinsley in New Mexico ($5,000); Democrat Frank Kravotil, in Maryland ($5,000); Republican Erik Paulsen of Minnesota ($5,000); Democrat Jon Adler of New Jersey ($5,000); Democrat Kurt Schrader of Oregon ($3,000); and Democrat Marcia Fudge in Ohio ($5,000).
CUNA also contributed to several members of Congress who were elected in special elections in recent months, including: Democrat Donna Edwards in Maryland ($1,000); Republican Paul Broun of Georgia ($5,000); Democrat Bill Foster of Illinois ($2,500); and Democrat Jackie Speier of California ($1,000).
Several so-called leadership PACs, generally second political action committee operated by members of Congress, also received CUNA contributions, including: Right Track PAC, operated by Democrat Marion Berry of Arkansas; Victory Now PAC, operated by Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Southern California Fund, operated by Democrat Brad Sherman.
