In fact, the CLF and the NRCC websites do not explain the decisions behind organizational spending strategy. 30, 2015, a day after he was elected speaker of the House.īut that is only about a third of the total amount the NRCC raised this campaign cycle and there is no indication Ryan dictates how the NRCC spends its money. Ryan serves as an ex-officio member of the NRCC’s executive committee and we found the PACs Team Ryan and Ryan for Congress gave a combined $31.4 million to the NRCC since Oct.

'While he was not speaker during the cycles where this money was spent, we feel that it is appropriate to use him as a representative of the group as a whole,' he said. That means Ryan would not have been in charge of the CLF and NRCC spending in the 20 elections.

Ryan wasn’t elected speaker of the House until October 2015. Kirsch explained that because Ryan is the speaker of the House, he is the nominal head of these organizations. Of that amount, $1.8 million came while Ryan was speaker of the House. We used the Federal Election Commission website and to verify those figures showing the NRCC and CLF have spent roughly $7.6 million in those campaigns. Kirsch also included the money Republicans spent to support Dold in 2014 and the current election. Schneider campaign spokesman Steven Kirsch sent us a list of contributions the NRCC and the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) donated to the effort to oppose Schneider’s campaign during the 2012, 20 elections. Schneider, too, is receiving money from national PACs like the Democrats Win Seats PAC set up by former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The Patriot Program describes itself as an organization that 'plays a vital role in keeping our Republican team on offense and helps build a lasting and productive Republican Majority for the American people.' In February, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) selected 12 candidates, including Dold, to receive extra money through a funding model called The Patriot Program. In a year where Democrats could take back the United States Congress, competitive races are getting attention.īoth parties are sending more to incumbent congressional candidates in tight races. That made us wonder: Has Ryan really spent millions of dollars to try to ensure Dold would be re-elected? We took a deep look at Super PACs and national committees to get to the bottom of this claim. 'Paul Ryan’s already spent millions to try and permanently derail Brad’s progressive, energized, campaign.' In fact, in his email, Frank calls out one Republican leader by name. Barney Frank of Massachusetts sent out a fundraising email in September supporting Schneider and criticizing top Republicans for donating to Dold’s campaign. Schneider’s friends won’t let voters forget it.įormer U.S. That race was the poster child for extremely high spending by national parties on a local race.

Schneider was elected to the seat in 2012, but as an incumbent in 2014, lost to Dold by 5,000 votes. It's a race both parties consider winnable and money from national sources is pouring in for support. Bob Dold and Democratic challenger Brad Schneider in Illinois' 10th Congressional District is one of the most expensive House races in the country.

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