Think money doesn't matter in politics? Think again.
In the 2014 Congressional races the vast majority of the candidates who spent the most won.
PBS Newshour runs down the numbers:
- 94% of the biggest spenders in House races won, which is up slightly from 2012
- 82% of the biggest spenders in Senate races were victorious, up from 76% in 2012
We already know that the $4 billion spent on this midterm election was more than any other midterm in history. It was the most on congressional elections ever, including during a presidential year.
What that means is, as one of us noted on NewsHour Monday night money, more specifically who spends the most, is about as good a predictor that there is of who will win a race. Those numbers, by the way, are pretty close to the incumbent reelection rates.
Top 5 most expensive Senate races overall:
- North Carolina Senate: $113 million
- Colorado Senate: $97 million
- Iowa Senate: $85 million
- Kentucky Senate: $78 million
- Georgia Senate: $66 million
Top 10 most expensive Senate races per voter:
- Alaska Senate: $121
- New Hampshire Senate: $50
- Iowa Senate: $39
- Colorado Senate: $27
- Arkansas Senate: $26
- Kentucky Senate: $24
- South Dakota Senate: $23
- North Carolina Senate: $16
- Montana Senate: $15
- Kansas Senate: $14
