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2008 Overview
Incumbent Advantage
The charts below show the enormous financial advantage enjoyed by incumbents. That's one of the reasons re-election rates are so high—incumbents generally don't have to work as hard to get their name and message out.
| Type of Candidate | Total Raised | Number of Cands |
Avg Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incumbent | $321,772,429 | 41 | $7,848,108 |
| Challenger | $73,111,139 | 96 | $761,574 |
| Open Seat | $42,426,995 | 27 | $1,571,370 |
| Grand Total | $437,310,563 | 164 | $2,666,528 |
| Type of Candidate | Total Raised | Number of Cands |
Avg Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incumbent | $430,962,400 | 434 | $993,001 |
| Challenger | $127,850,483 | 576 | $221,963 |
| Open Seat | $107,600,123 | 279 | $385,664 |
| Grand Total | $666,413,006 | 1,289 | $517,000 |
Based on data released by the FEC on July 30, 2008. Figures include all candidates who have filed reports.
To view data for previous cycles, visit our Historic Elections section.
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