Who raised the most money in the 2020 Iowa Senate race?

Theresa Greenfield (Democrat) raised $56M and had $8.4M in outside spending on their side.

Which outside groups spent the most on the 2020 Iowa Senate race?

Senate Majority PAC ($34M), Senate Leadership Fund ($32M), DSCC ($28M).

Which PACs gave the most to candidates in the 2020 Iowa Senate race?

Winred gave $620K to Joni Ernst; Ernst Victory gave $85K to Joni Ernst; Votesane PAC gave $63K to Joni Ernst.

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2020 general election

Iowa Senate

The winner was outraised and won anyway.

$248M was spent on the 2020 Iowa Senate race: $84M raised by the campaigns, $3.7M of it from PACs, plus $164M from outside groups (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Joni Ernst (Republican) won despite being outraised.

Total money

$248M

Raised by campaigns

$84M

PAC checks

$3.7M

Outside money

$164M

Candidates

Raised by the campaign Outside money supportingOutside money attacking Democrat Republican Other

Theresa GreenfieldDemocrat

✗ Lost

Raised: $56M
Spent: $56M
From individuals: $53M
From PACs: $955K
From party: $75K
Own money & loans: $0
Outside money for: $8.4M
Outside money against: $56M

Who paid: 2% of Greenfield's money came from PACs

Corporate $10K (1%)Trade group $1K (0%)Leadership PAC $395K (40%)Membership $75K (8%)Union $240K (24%)Super PAC $70K (7%)Party $56K (6%)Other $142K (14%)

Colorado Senate Victory 2016 Party$50K
J Street Membership$23K
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee Union$20K
Kaine Leadership PAC$10K
Forward Together PAC Leadership PAC$10K
Nutmeg PAC Leadership PAC$10K
New Millennium PAC Leadership PAC$10K
First State PAC Leadership PAC$10K

Biggest outside spenders

NRSC · $20M attacking
Senate Leadership Fund · $20M attacking
Plains PAC · $12M attacking
Family Friendly Action PAC · $3.9M supporting
Iowa Values Action · $2.1M attacking

FEC record S0IA00176

Joni ErnstRepublican, incumbent

✓ Won

Raised: $28M
Spent: $29M
From individuals: $22M
From PACs: $2.7M
From party: $46K
Own money & loans: $0
Outside money for: $18M
Outside money against: $81M

Who paid: 10% of Ernst's money came from PACs

Corporate $1.3M (36%)Trade group $588K (17%)Leadership PAC $372K (11%)Membership $195K (6%)Union $3K (0%)Super PAC $654K (19%)Party $45K (1%)Other $375K (11%)

Winred Super PAC$620K
Ernst Victory Other$85K
Votesane PAC Other$63K
Young Victory Committee Party$45K
Winning for Women, Inc. PAC Membership$13K
General Dynamics Corporation Corporate$13K
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Membership$13K
National Automobile Dealers Association Trade group$10K

Biggest outside spenders

Senate Majority PAC · $34M attacking
DSCC · $28M attacking
Senate Leadership Fund · $12M supporting
Women Vote! · $3.9M attacking
Lcv Victory Fund · $3.8M attacking

FEC record S4IA00129

Suzanne HerzogIndependent / other

✗ Lost

Raised: $18K
Spent: $18K
From individuals: $4K
From PACs: $0
From party: $0
Own money & loans: $14K
Outside money for: $0
Outside money against: $0

FEC record S0IA00184

Rick StewartLibertarian

✗ Lost

Raised: $9K
Spent: $16K
From individuals: $9K
From PACs: $0
From party: $0
Own money & loans: $0
Outside money for: $0
Outside money against: $0

FEC record S4IA00194

Questions people ask

How much money was spent on the 2020 Iowa Senate race?: $248M was spent on the 2020 Iowa Senate race: $84M raised by the campaigns, $3.7M of it from PACs, plus $164M from outside groups (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Joni Ernst (Republican) won despite being outraised.
Who raised the most money in the 2020 Iowa Senate race?: Theresa Greenfield (Democrat) raised $56M and had $8.4M in outside spending on their side.
Which outside groups spent the most on the 2020 Iowa Senate race?: Senate Majority PAC ($34M), Senate Leadership Fund ($32M), DSCC ($28M).
Which PACs gave the most to candidates in the 2020 Iowa Senate race?: Winred gave $620K to Joni Ernst; Ernst Victory gave $85K to Joni Ernst; Votesane PAC gave $63K to Joni Ernst.