Who raised the most money in the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?

Cal Cunningham (Democrat) raised $53M and had $21M in outside spending on their side.

Which outside groups spent the most on the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?

Senate Leadership Fund ($47M), Senate Majority PAC ($34M), DSCC ($24M).

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

Winred gave $406K to Thom Tilllis; DSCC gave $50K to Cal Cunningham; NRSC gave $45K to Thom Tilllis.

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2020 general election

North Carolina Senate

The winner was outraised and won anyway.

$281M was spent on the 2020 North Carolina Senate race: $76M raised by the campaigns, $4.4M of it from PACs, plus $205M from outside groups (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Thom Tilllis (Republican) won despite being outraised.

Total money

$281M

Raised by campaigns

$76M

PAC checks

$4.4M

Outside money

$205M

Candidates

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

Cal CunninghamDemocrat

✗ Lost

Raised: $53M
Spent: $52M
From individuals: $48M
From PACs: $866K
From party: $55K
Own money & loans: $200K
Outside money for: $21M
Outside money against: $89M

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

Corporate $15K (2%)Trade group $8K (1%)Leadership PAC $366K (40%)Membership $105K (11%)Union $215K (23%)Super PAC $74K (8%)Party $60K (6%)Other $80K (9%)

Colorado Senate Victory 2016 Party$50K
J Street Membership$35K
Nea Fund for Children and Public Education Union$15K
Democracy Engine, Inc. Corporate$13K
Let America Vote PAC Other$11K
Naral Pro-Choice America PAC Membership$10K
First State PAC Leadership PAC$10K
Lobo PAC Leadership PAC$10K

Biggest outside spenders

Senate Leadership Fund · $47M attacking
American Crossroads · $24M attacking
NRSC · $14M attacking
Priorities USA Action · $7.8M supporting
Americans for Prosperity Action · $2.9M attacking

FEC record S0NC00202

Thom TilllisRepublican, incumbent

✓ Won

Raised: $23M
Spent: $24M
From individuals: $17M
From PACs: $3.5M
From party: $0
Own money & loans: $0
Outside money for: $12M
Outside money against: $83M

Who paid: 15% of Tilllis's money came from PACs

Corporate $2.0M (49%)Trade group $784K (19%)Leadership PAC $288K (7%)Membership $225K (6%)Union $17K (0%)Super PAC $424K (10%)Party $48K (1%)Other $293K (7%)

Winred Super PAC$406K
Young Victory Committee Party$45K
National Beer Wholesalers Association Trade group$15K
Bank Policy Institute Trade group$15K
Abbott Laboratories Employee Political Action Committee Corporate$15K
National Pork Producers Council Trade group$15K
International Franchise Association Trade group$14K
Barclays Group US Inc. Corporate$13K

Biggest outside spenders

Senate Majority PAC · $34M attacking
DSCC · $24M attacking
Americans for Prosperity Action · $9.9M supporting
Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund (Everytown Victory Fund) · $3.9M attacking
Patients for Affordable Drugs Action · $3.7M attacking

FEC record S4NC00162

Plus 2 other candidates on the ballot with no reported money.

Questions people ask

How much money was spent on the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?: $281M was spent on the 2020 North Carolina Senate race: $76M raised by the campaigns, $4.4M of it from PACs, plus $205M from outside groups (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Thom Tilllis (Republican) won despite being outraised.
Who raised the most money in the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?: Cal Cunningham (Democrat) raised $53M and had $21M in outside spending on their side.
Which outside groups spent the most on the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?: Senate Leadership Fund ($47M), Senate Majority PAC ($34M), DSCC ($24M).
Which PACs gave the most to candidates in the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?: Winred gave $406K to Thom Tilllis; DSCC gave $50K to Cal Cunningham; NRSC gave $45K to Thom Tilllis.