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State political party revenue per capita

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See also: State political party revenue

The Democratic and Republican parties maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The parties primarily raise money through contributions, which is later used to support electoral candidates and general party administration.

The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the 50 states. Population numbers for each state are drawn from the State Population Totals: 2010-2019. Total state political party revenue consists of the sum of each state political party's federal and state accounts from 2011 to 2019. Click here to view the complete revenue data.


Top five states

The following tables display the five states with the highest state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican parties from 2011 to 2019:

Highest state political party revenue per capita, 2011-2019
Top five Democratic states Top five Republican states
Rank State Revenue per capita Rank State Revenue per capita
1 North Dakota $31.80 1 North Dakota $21.03
2 New Hampshire $29.81 2 Vermont $18.59
3 Montana $25.38 3 Florida $15.88
4 Iowa $24.20 4 Iowa $14.69
5 Maine $20.66 5 Wisconsin $13.23


The state Democratic parties with the highest state political party revenue per capita changed from 2017 to 2019, with North Dakota entering the top five. Of the Republican state political parties, North Dakota overtook Vermont for the highest revenue per capita.

The following two tables display the five states with the highest state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican parties from the previous two cycles of our analysis.

Highest state political party revenue per capita, 2011-2017
Top five Democratic states Top five Republican states
Rank State Revenue per capita Rank State Revenue per capita
1 New Hampshire $26.78 1 Vermont $17.71
2 Montana $19.41 2 North Dakota $14.50
3 Iowa $17.90 3 Florida $11.73
4 Maine $15.18 4 Iowa $10.56
5 Nevada $13.69 5 Wisconsin $9.68


Highest state political party revenue per capita, 2011-2016
Top five Democratic states Top five Republican states
Rank State Revenue per capita Rank State Revenue per capita
1 New Hampshire $28.12 1 Vermont $17.15
2 Iowa $22.67 2 North Dakota $13.57
3 Montana $21.33 3 Florida $11.48
4 Alaska $19.38 4 Iowa $10.13
5 North Dakota $18.52 5 New Hampshire $9.24


Population changes

Rather than using a state population average from 2011 to 2019, our calculations incorporate the State Population Totals: 2010-2019.

Since population changes could impact state political party revenue, the following tables identify percent population changes in the five states with the highest state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican parties from 2011 to 2019. Positive numbers represent a population increase while negative numbers indicate a population decrease.

Population changes in states with the highest state political party revenue per capita, 2011-2019
Top five Democratic states Top five Republican states
Rank State % population change Rank State % population change
1 North Dakota 11.21% 1 North Dakota 11.21%
2 New Hampshire 2.99% 2 Vermont -0.49%
3 Montana 6.35% 3 Florida 12.72%
4 Iowa 2.89% 4 Iowa 2.89%
5 Maine 1.20% 5 Wisconsin 2.05%


State government trifectas

See also: State government trifectas

A state government trifecta occurs when a single political party holds the following three positions in a state's government:

The concept of the trifecta is important in state lawmaking because in many states, the governor, senate majority leader and house majority leader play decisive roles in the legislative process.

  • Of of the top five Democratic states in terms of state political party revenue per capita, a Democratic trifecta exists in Maine.
  • Of the top five Republican states in terms of state political party revenue per capita, a Republican trifecta exists in North Dakota, Florida, and Iowa.


    • Campaign finance laws

    See also: Campaign finance
    See also: State campaign finance information

    Campaign finance laws regulate the sources and amounts of contributions to political candidates and campaigns, as well as the disclosure of information about campaign funds. While federal laws regulate the use of money in federal elections (i.e., presidential and congressional elections), the states themselves implement and enforce campaign finance laws for state-level candidates (such as governors and state legislators). Consequently, there is considerable variation in campaign finance laws from state to state.

    State contribution limits to political party committees

    The following tables identify variations in contribution limits to state political parties in the five states with the highest state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican parties from 2011 to 2016. Not all categories apply to all state political parties due to variations in state campaign finance laws.

    State contribution limits to political party committees for the top five state Democratic parties
    Individuals Single candidates committees PACs Non-group entity Political committee Political party Corporations Unions
    1. New Hampshire $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 N/A N/A $1,000 $1,000 $0
    2. Montana[1] unlimited unlimited unlimited N/A unlimited unlimited $0 unlimited
    3. Iowa unlimited unlimited unlimited N/A N/A unlimited unlimited unlimited
    4. Maine unlimited unlimited unlimited N/A N/A unlimited unlimited unlimited
    5. Nevada unlimited unlimited unlimited N/A N/A unlimited unlimited unlimited
    Super PACs, a special type of organization that can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures, cannot give directly to candidates, PACs or committees.


    State contribution limits to political party committees for the top five state Republican parties
    Individuals Single candidates committees Legislative campaign committees PACs Political party Corporations Unions
    1. Vermont $10,000 $10,000 N/A $10,000 $60,000 $10,000 $10,000
    2. North Dakota unlimited unlimited N/A unlimited unlimited $0 $0
    3. Florida unlimited $25,000 (surplus funds only) N/A unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited
    4. Iowa unlimited unlimited N/A unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited
    5. Wisconsin unlimited unlimited unlimited $6,000 unlimited $0 $0
    Super PACs, a special type of organization that can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures, cannot give directly to candidates, PACs or committees.


    Impact of joint fundraising committees

    See also: Presidential campaign fundraising, 2008-2016

    Joint fundraising committees can directly impact state political party revenue totals by functioning "as pass-throughs, shoveling the money out to the candidates and the party operatives as fast as possible."[2] According to the Center for Responsive Politics, joint fundraising committees have the following structure:

    “ A joint fundraising committee, or victory fund, is an account set up by two or more candidates, PACs, and/or political party committees hoping they can reap more together than they can on their own. Donors write one large check, and the money is divvied up between the partners. While neither can collect more from a single donor than they'd be able to on their own, it's often an efficient way to raise more money for everyone involved.[3][4] ”

    In some cases, contributions to state political parties through joint fundraising committees created larger-than-expected revenue per capita totals for participating state political parties, such as the Republican Party of Vermont following its 2012 participation in Romney Victory Inc. For a breakdown of state political party revenue by year, click here.

    Joint fundraising committees, 2016

    During the 2016 election cycle, both Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump established joint fundraising committees to maximize fundraising potential. Clinton and Trump's joint fundraising committees, the Hillary Victory Fund and Trump Victory, respectively, directed funds to a select group of state political parties, which could then be redirected at a later date to state political parties in battleground states.

    The Hillary Victory Fund included the following 38 state Democratic parties:[5]

    Trump Victory included the following 11 state Republican parties:[6][7]

    Joint fundraising committees, 2012

    During the 2012 election cycle, both Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney established joint fundraising committees to maximize fundraising potential. Obama and Romney's joint fundraising committees, the Obama Victory Fund 2012 and Romney Victory Inc., respectively, directed funds to a select group of state political parties, which could then be redirected at a later date to state political parties in battleground states.[6]

    The Obama Victory Fund 2012 included the following state Democratic parties:[3]

    Romney Victory Inc. included the following state Republican parties:[6][8]

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ In May 2016, a federal judge struck down several provisions of Montana's campaign finance law, including individual and committee contribution limits to state candidates. As of May 18, 2016, it was unclear whether previous contribution limits would be enforced in light of the judge's ruling. The table on this page details contribution limits in 2014.
    2. ↑ NPR, "New Romney Fund Highlights Fundraising Muscle," July 16, 2012
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Center for Responsive Politics, "Joint victory committees and the mega-donor," accessed September 30, 2016
    4. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    5. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Hillary Victory Fund—Statement of Organization," June 23, 2016
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Roll Call, "Mitt Romney's Fundraising Boost Stems From Unique Tactic," July 27, 2012
    7. ↑ VTDigger.org, "Trump, RNC announce joint fundraising deal," May 18, 2016
    8. ↑ VTDigger.org, "Vermont political parties receive serious financial support from Democratic National Committee, Romney's campaign," July 30, 2012
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