2004 CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUMMARY - Minnesota Campaign ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - ELECTION YEAR 2004
The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board is charged with the administration of the Ethics in
Government Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 10A. During an election year campaign committees of
candidates who file for office are required to file three Reports of Receipts and Expenditures: pre-primary,
pre-general, and year-end. Campaign committees of candidates whose office is not up for election and
candidates who chose not to file for office, file one year-end report. Offices open for election in 2004
were: House of Representatives and certain Judicial seats. Political party units, political committees, and
political funds that attempt to influence state elections also filed pre-primary, pre-general, and year-end
reports.
This summary is based on reports for election year 2004, as filed with the Board by principal campaign
committees of candidates for 134 state representative seats (311 candidates filed), 38 candidates for
elective judicial seats, and a special election in Senate District 37. Additionally, this summary includes
data supplied by 4 constitutional officeholders; 67 senate officeholders; 7 judicial officeholders; 18 judicial
candidates; 442 committees of candidates who did not file for election in 2004; 343 political party units;
and 381 political committees and political funds. Comparison of total data from election year 2004 by
principal campaign committees, political committees, or political funds with similar data from election
years 2000 and 2002 is included in this summary. The data has not been verified or audited.
This summary includes, for each candidate committee, political party unit, political committee or political
fund, total contributions received; total transfers to candidates, committees, or funds; total expenditures;
beginning and ending cash balances; and the total amount of public subsidy received by qualifying
candidates. Outstanding loans payable, unpaid bills, or disbursements other than campaign expenditures
or transfers to candidates are not itemized in the summary but are reflected in the totals reported in the
summary.
Campaign committees for constitutional and legislative office must abide by certain contribution limits.
There is no contribution limit for elective judgeship candidates. House candidates reported receiving a
total of $4,592,793 from individuals, lobbyists, political committees and political funds; and $569,993 from
political parties (see page12) A total of $440,057 in contributions were reported received by 38 judicial
candidates (see page 27). A listing of the names of individuals, committees, or funds contributing in
aggregate more than $100 to legislative or district court candidates and more than $200 to constitutional
office candidates and a list of contributors to political party units, political committees and political funds
begins on page 51.
Included in the total contributions received by House of Representative candidates were 5,823 donations
of more than $100 each totaling $2,106,401 (41% of total contributions received). Judicial candidates
received contributions from 513 donations of more than $100 each totaling $284,628 (65% of total
contributions received).
Most candidates voluntarily agree to limit expenditures in order to receive public subsidies. These
subsidies include direct payments to eligible candidates during election years and the right to participate
in the Political Contribution Refund (PCR) program. Agreements to abide by spending limits in order to
receive money from the State Elections Campaign Fund were signed by 97% of registered house of
representative candidates filing for office. A total of $1,736,164 in public subsidy was distributed to 267
eligible house of representative candidates.
Campaign expenditures are made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate
and apply toward the expenditure limit applicable to partisan candidates who signed a Public Subsidy