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2020 general election

North Carolina Senate

The winner was outraised and won anyway.

$281M in receipts plus outside spending is tied to the 2020 North Carolina Senate race: $76M raised by the campaigns, $4.4M of it from PACs, plus $205M from outside groups (FEC filings with varying coverage dates; the most common larger-campaign cutoff is Dec 31, 2020). Thom Tilllis (Republican) won despite being outraised.

Receipts + outside spending

$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 $13K (1%)Trade group $8K (1%)Leadership PAC $366K (40%)Membership $100K (11%)Union $210K (23%)Super PAC $74K (8%)Party $60K (7%)Other $80K (9%)

Biggest outside spenders

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 $1.9M (49%)Trade group $750K (19%)Leadership PAC $283K (7%)Membership $218K (6%)Union $17K (0%)Super PAC $370K (10%)Party $48K (1%)Other $285K (7%)

Biggest outside spenders

FEC record S4NC00162

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

Questions people ask

How much money is tied to the 2020 North Carolina Senate race?
$281M in receipts plus outside spending is tied to the 2020 North Carolina Senate race: $76M raised by the campaigns, $4.4M of it from PACs, plus $205M from outside groups (FEC filings with varying coverage dates; the most common larger-campaign cutoff is 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 $352K to Thom Tilllis; DSCC gave $50K to Cal Cunningham; NRSC gave $45K to Thom Tilllis.