The Nation : Cost of House Races Put at $204 Million

It cost more than $204 million to fill the 435 House seats in the November election, with incumbents--almost all of whom won--trouncing opponents in donations, spending and political action committee money, according to a new study. The report from Common Cause, a self-styled public interest group, showed that the 789 candidates who ran for the House in the general election raised $240.9 million and spent $204.3 million. PACs contributed a record $99.6 million. The 408 incumbents in the election raised $174.2 million, of which $82.1 million came from PACs, and spent $141.8 million, the study found. The 328 challengers, meanwhile, raised $38.9 million, of which $9 million came from PACs, and spent $36.4 million. The 53 candidates who sought open seats raised $27.7 million, $8.4 million from PACs, and spent $26 million. Eventually, 98.6% of House incumbents were reelected.